Empowering Design: Nurturing Accessibility and Inclusion through Effective Mentorship

Guiding the Next Generation of Designers Toward a More Inclusive Future

5 min readMay 17

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”—Steve Jobs

Design that works for everyone. That’s the mantra. In our rapidly evolving world, the power of design and technology serves as the backbone of our interactions, the blueprint of our experiences. The sheer breadth and depth of this impact is staggering, but it’s our responsibility to wield this power mindfully. I have navigated the tumultuous seas of the design and tech industry, and if there’s one thing that’s crystal clear, it’s this: Accessibility and inclusion aren’t just buzzwords, they’re non-negotiables. As we sculpt the digital landscape, every design choice we make echoes across the full spectrum of human diversity. These choices can either create barriers or build bridges. The goal? To craft not only superior products, but a world that’s better, bolder, and more inclusive. Let’s get to work.

Accessibility: Beyond the Check Box, Into the Core of Design

Over my years navigating the design universe, mentoring and collaborating with a galaxy of designers, I’ve borne witness to a seismic shift in our perception of accessibility. It’s morphed from a simple afterthought or compliance box to be ticked off, into a fundamental cornerstone of effective design.

Accessibility is about ensuring our creations aren’t just for a select few, but for everyone. It’s about extending the reach of our products and services to encompass as many people as possible, irrespective of their abilities or circumstances. Be it individuals with physical, sensory, or cognitive differences, the mature-aged, or people facing temporary obstacles like a broken arm — accessibility is the key that unlocks their inclusion. Embracing accessibility isn’t just good design, it’s good humanity.