Comparing Product Assessment Methods for Inclusive Design

Abstract

New emerging technologies and increasingly competitive design markets are strategically planned to satisfy ’mainstream’ consumer needs. However, two population trends seem to have been ignored by this mainstream market perception: first, the economic power of the growing older adult consumer population in most developed countries; and, second, the increasing awareness and legislation about the rights of the disabled community (Coleman, 2001). Both groups are continually disadvantaged or even excluded from using many everyday design solutions, which impose functional capability demands beyond their acceptable limits (Keates et al., 2000). As these ’non-mainstream’ consumers become aware of their economic and legislative influence, there is clearly a need and opportunity to develop more inclusive design solutions (Yelding, 2003). The scarcity of commercially successful inclusive design solutions suggests that these users’ wants and needs have not been properly included during the design process. Designers are either not familiar with these population trends or lack the methods to address this problem in real-life circumstances.