Building For Everyone

INTRODUCTION

Being human is looking so deep within you that I see myself.

—Inspired by Mark Nepo, Poet and Spiritual Adviser

Think about a time when you felt completely yourself. Maybe you were with family members or friends that completely accepted you, or you were performing a hobby that you enjoyed immensely and could lose yourself in. You felt at ease, almost blissful, void of judgment because you could shake any preconceived notions of who you are, who you are supposed to be…and just be.

Now, think about a time when you felt excluded or ignored. Have you ever shown up at a party, summer camp, or a new job only to discover that everyone had already made friends and wasn't particularly welcoming or eager to get to know you? How did that make you feel? At the end of the day, everyone wants to feel welcome. It's what people want in their relationships with their family members, their friends, their pets, and their colleagues.

When we don't fit in or when products or services do not feel as though they were built for us, we feel excluded, frustrated, disappointed, or even upset. When a product or service seems to be designed for everyone but us, we can feel as though we were ignored or disregarded by those involved in the product design process. Our feelings can range from mere annoyance (“Whatever, I didn't want to use this thing anyway”) to deep alienation or hurt (“I feel like this does not represent me or my community and what this represents is threatening”).

Knowing ...