Samsung Pioneers: Design for All
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“Accessibility in design is not just a feature; it's an essential foundation for a truly inclusive world”, says Ben Evans, Director of London Design Festival.
At London Design Festival, we believe that great design serves everyone, regardless of ability, background, or circumstance. To drive this vision, this year we’ve partnered with Samsung and Amy Francis-Smith, RIBA Architect & Accessible Design Specialist, as part of Samsung’s DEI commitment. Together, we’re encouraging brands to get comfortable with the ‘uncomfortable’ by tackling gender equity, diversity, and inclusion in the UK’s tech industry.
Samsung’s latest research has revealed that inaccessible designs are excluding millions of consumers from products, services and experiences in the UK.
Over two-thirds (68%) of UK adults with invisible and visible disabilities have felt excluded from products or services due to accessibility issues and 55% don’t feel mainstream brands truly design for or cater to individual needs. Not only that - 80% of people believe brands may be missing millions by overlooking the needs of disabled consumers, and three-quarters (76%) would stay loyal to companies offering accessible options.
It’s clear that there is still work to be done to provide greater access to products and services for people with disabilities in the UK, across all industries.
Consumers are continually facing challenging everyday experiences due to poor accessibility, with the biggest hurdles including retail store layouts (24%), food packaging (22%) and clothing (21%). These challenges aren’t limited to physical design. When it comes to online shopping, 80% struggle with websites that are not optimised for accessibility, with issues including poorly designed checkout processes (30%), lack of text descriptions for images (22%) and inaccessible website navigation (20%).
In partnership with Samsung, we’re encouraging the industry to re-write this design narrative. Inclusivity in design is a must from the start and companies need to test their ideas with diverse people with different needs.
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“When designers consider varied needs from the beginning, they don’t just serve people with disabilities – they create solutions that benefit everyone”, says Katharina Mayer, Head of LifeStyle Lab Europe, at Samsung.
That’s the approach Samsung takes to inclusive design. The brand developed Project INKlusion, a collaborative project aimed at enhancing inclusive design and promoting the brand’s enhanced design principles. After speaking with design leaders and over five hundred members of Samsung’s Global Employee Resource Groups, the team explored the challenges within current products and solutions to find creative ways to address them together. This led to the four DEI design principles and practice:
Stay Curious – create joy through play, learning and growing
Challenge Assumptions – deconstruct the ‘normal’, solve problems not people
Celebrate Diversity – amplify diverse stories; represent real life
Be the Change – create with, not for; expand beyond the individual
At LDF, we believe the industry must continue to showcase a wide breadth of spaces, products, and systems that promote inclusive design and encourage innovation and creativity.
The journey is far from over – but we’re excited for what’s to come. Along with Samsung, we’ll continue to push the accessible design agenda until its no longer a question, but a given.
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