Inclusive design

Leaning into inclusivity, many brands are focusing on adaptive designs to ensure that their products and platforms are as accessible as possible. From fashion to tech to personal care, product design is evolving to serve a diverse community in new ways.

women using inclusive deodorant — Wunderman Thompson: Degree Inclusive

Unilever is breaking the mold with Degree Inclusive, a radically redesigned deodorant package that makes uncapping and applying deodorant easier for people with limited upper mobility. Christina Mallon, Head of Inclusive Design at Wunderman Thompson, helped to brainstorm the concept, which includes a hook for storage, a magnetic cap for easy replacement, and braille labels as part of its final design.

Microsoft Digital announced in March 2021 that they are incorporating more inclusive technical design standards in order to make their employee experience more accessible.

WEB CW5883 001 238779585 D A 1 X1 original — Nike GO FlyEase

WEB CW5883 100 237589929 D A 1 X1 original — Nike GO FlyEase

The Nike GO FlyEase is an innovative, hands-free sneaker, which will be available to the masses later in 2021. Seen as both “accessible and empowering,” this breakthrough design makes it easier to slip shoes on and kick them off with just a step. Intuitive and inclusive, the sneaker is making waves in trending fashion as well.

WEB Pierre Davis Bottle Interaction 021 2840 FC B ADOBERGB — LIFEWTR for Life Unseen, artwork from Pierre Davis.

WEB Run River North Bottle 058 B ADOBERGB — LIFEWTR for Life Unseen, artwork from Run River North.

WEB Mariam Pare Bottle 0204 B ADOBERGB — LIFEWTR for Life Unseen, artwork from Mariam Pare.

LIFEWTR and Issa Rae are working together to fight for fair representation in the arts. In April 2021, they launched Life Unseen, which celebrates creative diversity and addresses systemic disparities that prevent equal access to and stifle exposure within the arts.
PepsiCo redesigned their two-liter soda bottles in November 2020 for a single-handed grip. The bottom half of the bottles now arch inward, making them easier to grip and pour for users with limited muscle strength.

Why it’s interesting: Consumers are driving acknowledgment and acceptance of a wider range of experiences and demanding that brands do the same through innovation, redesign, and representation. Focusing on more inclusive products and programs allows brands to diversify their workforce, their end product, and eventually their consumer base.

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Main image courtesy of Wunderman Thompson: Degree Inclusive.