The Time is Now: on product inclusion, a pandemic, and building with equity in mind
I originally wanted to write a post about the need for product inclusion during the current challenging times. Given the past few weeks, it feels even more timely that companies commit to action as it relates to building equitable services and products. There is deep suffering, an overwhelming rush of grief and despair, and the time to act is now. #BlackLivesMatter
Helping everyone feel seen is my “why,” what gets me out of bed in the morning, makes me fight for equity when I’m tired, makes me speak up when my voice warbles. But it should really be something core to anyone who has a part in making an end product or service, whether it be software, hardware, clothing, makeup, buildings, books, curriculums or anything else. If you are committed to equity, that means everyone should feel thought of in your process and you must commit to long-term action and learning to get there.
Many times, people ask, “what dimensions of diversity should I focus on?” And my answer is “those historically left out.” When you think about this current climate, we are seeing Black people hurting, Black people begging to be free of constant fear, Black people advocating to be treated equitably. But you can be Black and LGBTQ+, Black and over 75, Black and have a disability, Black and of lower socioeconomic status. Companies must think intersectionally to really build lasting, systemic change. Stack ranking dimensions doesn’t work, because we all have so many dimensions that make us who we are.
Others ask, “I’m not in diversity-what do I do?” There are so many pieces in the product or service design process, from marketing, to research, to testing, to ideating, to support. Identify where you are asking “who else?” and making your circle wider for potential customers and where you aren’t. Everyone is on the hook for building with equity at the forefront. Name the process points that are integral to your organization-put them on the table and have the hard conversations. You can’t make change if you don’t see it, acknowledge it, and commit to doing better.
In the current era, there is a huge risk that those who have been disproportionately left out of building products and services can be missing from the solutions. The current inequality gap can widen, and that poses a big risk for all of us.
The world will not go back to what we once knew. We must grieve, adapt and make sure those who have not historically been left out become even more left out in the new “normal.” There have been ingenious ways of adapting, but what can happen when we move quickly is that we forget to think of those historically at the margins. It’s harder to retroactively fix something; it’s easier to build with equity in mind from the beginning.
Think about it-for those who lip-read, for example- if your co-workers are in dimly lit spaces or not facing the camera, how does that impact your work life?
For those who are tired and scared right now due to racial injustice, how does having daily stand up check-ins where people ask “how was your night?” And people talk about the tv show they watched, but don’t acknowledge their co-workers are suffering wear on someone who is of color?
Conversely, if people are afraid to acknowledge what is going on and avoid having Black people and people of color at the table, the solutions will not be built WITH everyone and likely won’t be the solutions underrepresented groups need.
For those care-taking (many times for multiple generations, like children and aging parents) how do you work, teach, care and still make time for yourself?
The below examples showcase multiple dimensions of diversity that we need to think about.
Examples of those underrepresented in the current era:
Sources: World Bank, AARP
Source: BBC
Race, age, ability, socioeconomic status, geography, gender and more are dimensions of diversity that must be prioritized and intentionally thought of.
When we do bring multiple perspectives into the fold, magic can happen. More practically, we can build solutions for everyone, both majority and underrepresented, and create a world where everyone feels seen, validated, heard, uplifted and thought of in the process and the end result.
We need underrepresented voices to be a key part of solutions. We also cannot build for people without asking what they need and giving them a seat at the table, at all levels.
Source: USA Today
When you ask “who else?” doors unlock, not just for the underrepresented group you’re working for and with, but for everyone. The “curbed cut effect” demonstrates this, and we’ve seen it across multiple dimensions of diversity.
Allyship without action is just words. Pick one thing to act upon, one way to implement inclusion into your design process, so that our new world is one where everything has a voice, and their voices create better outcomes for everyone.
VIEWS ARE MY OWN.
For more, follow @its_me_ajb on Instagram or preorder Building for Everyone
