User Experience for Non-Technical Users

👩🦰 Designing Accessibility Personas (https://lnkd.in/evVnB4hd). How to embed accessibility and test for it early in the design process ↓ We often assume that digital products are merely that — products. They either work or don’t work. That they help people meet their needs or fail on their path to get there. But every product has its own embedded personality. It can be helpful or dull, fragile or reliable, supportive or misleading. When we design it, willingly or unwillingly, we embed our values, views and perspectives into it. Sometimes it’s meticulously shaped and refined. And sometimes it’s simply random. And when that happens, users assign their perception of the product’s personality to the product instead. Products are rarely accessible by accident. There must be an intent that captures and drives accessibility efforts in a product. And the best way to do that is by involving people with temporary, situational and permanent disabilities into the design process. One simple way of achieving that is by inviting people with disabilities in the design process. For that, we could recruit people via tools like Access Works or UserTesting, ask admins of groups and channels on accessibility to help, or drop an email to non-profits that work in accessibility space. Another way is establishing accessibility personas for user journeys. Consider them as user profiles that highlight common barriers faced by people with particular conditions and provide guidelines for designers and engineers on how to design and build for them. E.g. Simone, a dyslexic user, or Chris, a user with rheumatoid arthritis. For each, we document known challenges and notable considerations, designing training tasks for designers and developers and instructions to simulate experience through the lens of these personas. By no means does it replace proper accessibility testing, but it creates a shared understanding about what the experiences are like. You can build on top of Gov.uk’s profound research project (https://lnkd.in/evVnB4hd) — it also explains how to set up devices and browsers, so that each persona has their own browser profile. Once you do, you can always switch between them and simulate an experience, without changing settings every single time. All Accessibility Personas (+ Tasks, Research, Setup) https://lnkd.in/evVnB4hd Accessibility doesn’t have to be challenging if it’s considered early. No digital product is neutral. Accessibility is a deliberate decision, and a commitment. Not only does it help everyone; it also shows what a company believes in and values. And once you do have a commitment, and it will be much easier to retain accessibility, rather than adding it last minute as a crutch — because that’s where it’s way too late to do it right, and way too expensive to make it well. [Useful pointers in the comments ↓] #ux #accessibility

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐞 Enterprise Architecture abhors a vacuum—it thrives on stakeholder engagement. Often, architects jump into collaboration without first assessing one critical factor: • 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐄𝐀? Before strategy, frameworks, or roadmaps, 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 and 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. This will shape how you approach, gain buy-in, and drive outcomes. Here are 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 for aligning EA with stakeholders: 𝟏 | 𝐆𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐞 𝐄𝐀 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 EA means different things to people, how can you align? Approach: * 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞. What do leaders think EA does? What experiences shape their view? * 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐀 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞. If a product saw EA as 'overhead,’ shift the conversation to ‘rapid decision-making.’ * 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. Finance, operations, and IT leaders have different concerns. Meet them on their terms. 👉 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞: When you shape EA’s role based on their reality, it becomes relevant, not theoretical. 𝟐 | 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐄𝐀 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 EA isn’t all architecture, it’s solving business problems. Approach: * 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝐏𝐈𝐬. Growth? Efficiency? Risk? Align EA contributions to what leadership interests. * 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭. Show architecture driving go-to-market, savings, or agility—over compliance. * 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐞/𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬. If EA was a bottleneck, demonstrate accelerated decision-making instead. 👉 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞: EA is a strategic enabler, not afterthought. 𝟑 | 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐄𝐀 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 EA works best in collaboration, not isolation. Approach: * 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. Decision-making improves when EA is a proactive presence. * 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 ‘𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐀’ 𝐭𝐨 ‘𝐜𝐨-𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.’ Stakeholders engage when architecture is a tool for their success. * 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞-𝐨𝐟𝐟. EA isn’t a pitch—it’s a dialog evolving with business. 👉 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞: EA shaping decisions early rather than reacting later. 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠. Before pushing frameworks or models, assess 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐀 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲—and how to reshape that narrative to unlock its full potential. How do align EA stakeholders? Let’s discuss.👇 --- ➕ 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 Kevin Donovan 🔔    👍 Like | ♻️ Repost | 💬 Comment    🚀 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬’ 𝐇𝐮𝐛 👉 https://lnkd.in/dgmQqfu2

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 One of the most underappreciated challenges in leading data initiatives isn't the technology, it's effectively engaging with multiple stakeholder groups who each need different information, presented differently. Success can be best supported by tailoring your approach across three distinct audiences: 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞/𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 These stakeholders need the 30,000-foot view focused on: 🔹 Business impact and ROI 🔹 Risk mitigation strategies 🔹 Resource allocation justification 🔹 Clear timelines with defined milestones When presenting here, focus on outcomes rather than methods, using business metrics they already value and understand. 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬-𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 Department leaders and business partners require: 🔹 How the project will affect their operations 🔹 Specific benefits to their teams 🔹 Required involvement and resource commitments 🔹 Timeline of when they'll see tangible results Ensure you translate technical concepts into functional benefits, always answering their implicit question: "What's in it for my team?" 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐌𝐄𝐬 / 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐫𝐬 These specialists need: 🔹 Architectural decisions and their rationale 🔹 Technical dependencies and integration points 🔹 Clear technical requirements and acceptance criteria 🔹 Roadmaps for implementation and technical debt management With this group, go deeper into the "how" while still connecting it to the "why." The true art lies in maintaining consistency across these different views. The timeline shown to executives must align with what the technical team is building and what business stakeholders are expecting. The promised business outcomes must be technically feasible. Successful data leaders don't just understand data, they understand people and can adapt their communication to bring everyone along on the journey. What challenges have you faced when communicating complex data initiatives across different organisational levels? #DataLeadership #StakeholderManagement #DataStrategy #TechnicalLeadership

On this 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, it's essential to reflect on how our designs impact inclusivity in the real estate industry. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 ensures that environments are usable by individuals with disabilities, focusing on compliance and removing barriers. 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻, however, goes beyond mere accessibility. It considers the diverse needs of all users, aiming to create spaces that everyone can enjoy, regardless of age, ability, or background. In my experience of working in real estate, I and my team initially adhered strictly to accessibility standards. While compliant, the design felt clinical and unwelcoming. This is where design thinking comes into play, by engaging with a diverse group of future residents and considering their insights, we reimagined the space to be more inclusive, adding features like adjustable countertops and varied seating options in common areas. This approach not only met accessibility requirements but also fostered a sense of belonging among all residents. What do you think about inclusive design in real estate? Let me know in the comments. #InclusiveDesign #AccessibleDesign #RealEstate #DesignThinking #InternationalDayOfPersonsWithDisabilities

🎭 Accessibility isn’t just a checkbox. It’s a catalyst for innovation. Last year, I created the first accessible HTML Playbill. This year, I coordinated the Playbill for Oliver! The Musical. And the curb cut effect showed up in full force. On opening night, the printer broke. The next day, the network went down. No printed programs. No network. But because I had already built an accessible HTML version for this show, we had a fast-loading, mobile-friendly program ready to go. I added a QR code, step-by-step instructions, and URLs for folks unfamiliar with QR tech. It loaded quickly on a finicky network and people could view it in low light during the show when it's too dark to see the printed program. The organization later added a QR code to a PDF version. If I could do it again, I’d direct people to the accessible version. At the top of that version, I'd link to the PDF version. This lets people choose between the faster loading page on mobile devices in a building with a poor connection or the full image program. This is the curb cut effect: a solution designed for accessibility that benefits everyone. And it’s also a reminder ... Hire us. Involve us. Disabled people bring lived experience that leads to creative, practical, and inclusive solutions. We don’t just advocate for accessibility. We design and build it. Accessibility isn’t charity. It’s a strategy. Want resilient systems? Involve disabled problem-solvers. If you're a person with a disability or have worked with disabled collaborators, what unexpected value do disabled people bring to the table? Accessibility isn’t just about compliance. It’s about creativity, resilience, and insight. If you’re ready to build smarter, more inclusive systems, drop a comment or DM. 🔔 Tap profile bell (You may need to do it again. LinkedIn reset it.) 👉 Follow #MerylMots for past posts #UserExperience #Accessibility The image shows what the signs looked like: "Oliver! Playbill" with four steps. A box where the QR code appeared and the URL beneath it.

Question: If you had a bad experience with a company or product, would you buy from them again? The answer is "no" right? For disabled people, 75-80% of customer experiences are failures. That means that 75-80% of transactions for our community aren't repeated. That's pretty bad right? The impact of a negative experience resonates far beyond a single transaction. It can influence a customer's decision-making process and brand loyalty for the long term. In striving for improvement, businesses must recognise the importance of inclusivity and accessibility. By investing in accessible design, empathetic customer service, and continuous feedback loops, we can create an environment where every customer feels valued and understood. Here are some actionable steps to enhance the customer experience for everyone: * Prioritise accessibility: Ensure your physical and digital spaces are accessible to disabled people. This includes wheelchair ramps, accessible websites, and accommodating customer service practices. * Educate your team: Educate your staff to the diverse needs of customers. Training programmes that emphasise empathy and understanding can go a long way in fostering a positive and inclusive customer experience. * Feedback mechanisms: Establish channels for customers to provide feedback easily. Actively seek input from disabled people to understand our unique challenges and implement necessary improvements. * Adopt universal design: From product packaging to online interfaces, adopt a design philosophy that considers the diverse needs of all customers. Universal design benefits everyone and creates a more positive overall experience. * Transparent communication: Be transparent about your commitment to inclusivity. Communicate the steps you are taking to improve accessibility, both internally and externally. This fosters trust and demonstrates your dedication to positive customer experiences. Remember, creating a truly inclusive business environment not only improves the lives of disabled people but also enhances the overall customer experience for everyone. It's a win-win strategy that builds lasting connections and fosters brand loyalty. #InclusiveBusiness #CustomerExperience #AccessibilityMatters

We design for the average. The average doesn’t exist. April is Autism Acceptance Month. Designing for autism is about building products that work for everyone. Cognitive overload affects everyone. Your brain has limits, and more noise can affect how you perceive things. For some autistic users, this is constant and amplified. Many rely on digital products to navigate daily life. Yet most interfaces ignore them. So what happens? We design experiences that overwhelm the people who need them most. And if your product overwhelms autistic users, it’s exhausting everyone else. Here are 5 principles to get you started: 1. Consistent Structure Keep navigation, layout, and UI patterns identical across your entire product. Why: Sudden changes cause anxiety and disorientation. Example: Shopping cart stays in the top-right corner across every page. 2. Literal Communication Use plain, direct language. Skip idioms and metaphors. Why: Vague language requires guessing and creates confusion Example: "Your payment was declined. Check your card number and try again." 3. Sensory Calm Use muted, natural colours. Avoid pure black/white and bright contrasts. Why: Extreme contrast and bright colours cause sensory overload Example: Dashboard with soft beige background, dark grey text, and 3-4 clearly separated sections 4. User Control Default to sound off. Allow people to pause, stop, or disable animations. Why: Sensory needs vary greatly, and customization prevents overload. Example: Toggles for reduced motion, dark mode, font size, and autoplay off by default. 5. Predictable Interactions Provide clear feedback and progress indicators so users always know where they are. Why: Unexpected interruptions trigger anxiety and break focus. Example: Multi-step form shows "Step 2 of 4" with a progress bar, confirms "Your information was saved" after each step. Better design starts with understanding. 👇🏽What would you add to this list? 🔖 Save this for reference ♻️ Share it with your team ---- ✉️ Subscribe for more accessibility and design insights: https://lnkd.in/gZpAzWSu ---- Accessibility note: This infographic, titled Designing for Autism has the same content as the post. It also includes alt text.

Lyft knew they had a problem. Only 5.6% of its users are over 65, and those users are 57% more likely to miss the ride they ordered. So, Lyft created Silver – a special app version for seniors. But why create a separate app when these improvements would benefit all users? The curb-cut effect is real. Features designed for wheelchair users ended up helping parents with strollers, travelers with luggage, and delivery workers with carts. The features in Lyft's senior-friendly app wouldn't only benefit older riders: 💡The 1.4x larger font option? Great for bright sunlight, rough rides. 💡Simplified interface? Less cognitive load for all of us. 💡Live help operators? Great for anyone when there's a problem. 💡Select preference for easy entry/exit vehicles? Not everyone likes pickup trucks. What started as an accommodation should became a universal improvement. The most powerful insight? Designing for seniors forced Lyft to prioritize what truly matters: simplicity and ease of use. Will they leverage this for all their users? The next time someone suggests adding another button to your interface or feature to your product, consider this approach instead: sometimes the most innovative design is the one that works for everyone. Rather than creating separate "accessible" versions, what if we just built our core products to be usable by all? This is the paradox of inclusive design - what works better for some almost always works better for all. What "accessibility" feature have you encountered that actually made life better for all users? #UniversalDesign #ProductThinking #CustomerExperience

🙈🙊🙉 Inclusive Design = Better UX Did you know that over 1 billion people worldwide live with a disability? That is about 16% of the global population. 😱 Yet, 98% of websites still fail basic accessibility standards. Even more concerning, 68% of users with disabilities leave websites because of design barriers. Microsoft Inclusive Design https://lnkd.in/gxx_CXp9 💡 What is Inclusive Design? Inclusive design is a methodology that considers the full range of human diversity. Abilities, languages, cultures, genders, ages, and different life situations. It is not only about accessibility for people with disabilities. It is about creating better experiences for everyone. 🛠️ Examples of inclusive design in real life: 🚪 Automatic doors Originally created for wheelchair users. Now convenient for everyone. 📃 Subtitles Essential for deaf and hard of hearing users. Also useful in noisy places or when sound is off. 🎮 Xbox Adaptive Controller Designed for gamers with limited mobility. Fully customizable for many user needs. 🎯 Why does it matter? When we design for diverse needs, we build products that work for a wider audience. ✅ How to get started: 1️⃣ Explore Microsoft’s Inclusive Design toolkit https://lnkd.in/gxx_CXp9 2️⃣ Use accessibility checklists W3C Web Accessibility Guidelines https://lnkd.in/dAjpu_8R 3️⃣ Apply WCAG principles in your projects https://lnkd.in/dSVbFjXi 4️⃣ Involve users with different needs in your design process. Let’s design products that are accessible, inclusive, and useful for all. #InclusiveDesign #UXDesign #Accessibility #DesignForAll #MicrosoftDesign

Your AI strategy will fail if clinicians are not involved from day one. There will be no use for AI if they are not involved. Most organizations tend to miss this key part,  involving key players early on, and it's hurting your adoption rates. From healthcare professionals to patients, administrative staff to tech providers, each stakeholder plays a crucial role in successful implementation. Here's how to engage them effectively: Healthcare Professionals (Doctors, Nurses, Specialists) 1. Engage early in the decision-making process 2. Gather input on practical requirements and potential challenges 3. Involve in pilot programs to assess usability and integration challenges 4. Provide comprehensive training on new technologies Patients 1. Educate about new technologies and their benefits 2. Screen for digital literacy to identify those who may need extra support 3. Choose user-friendly technologies that don't require logins or downloads 4. Explain how new tools will save time or improve health outcomes Administrative Staff 1. Include in needs assessment to identify inefficiencies in workflows 2. Provide training on new systems and processes 3. Gather feedback on technology effectiveness and areas for improvement Technology Providers 1. Involve in stakeholder discussions to understand healthcare-specific needs 2. Collaborate on pilot programs and validation of technologies 3. Ensure technology is effective for healthcare professionals and interoperable with existing healthcare infrastructure 4. Ensure intuitive navigation in healthcare technology systems to facilitate adoption Organizational Leadership 1. Conduct thorough needs assessments to align technology with organizational goals 2. Develop a strategic plan with SMART goals for digital transformation 3. Establish key success metrics to evaluate technology effectiveness 4. Create a common forum for stakeholder discussions Including the different stakeholders can lead to: 1) Shared vision 2) Trust building 3) Addressing (and avoiding) conflicting interest 4) Improved compatibility 5) Ethical considerations What learnings do you have from implementing new technical tools in your organization?