More often than not, the products, apps, content, and art that we create are being consumed, and often purchased, by a diverse group of people (unless you've restricted access or are targeting a specific population).
Subtle cues in language, images, and even the usability, can signal to users and consumers that they were not considered or even thought of during the design phase.
For example, nearly every time that I wear my hair in an afro, or afro puff, and use a virtual background on Zoom or Google Hangouts, my hair gets cut off 😑. To me, this is indicative of two things:
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That the designers and developers didn't take into consideration someone with my hair type (read: lack of inclusion). And..
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That the team responsible for the product likely doesn't have someone with my hair type (read: lack of diversity)
This example may seem insignificant to many, but over time these small acts of exclusion can really add up and make a person feel less than. To avoid this, it's helpful to have a DEI thought partner to help you think through ways to ensure that your products, apps, websites, content, and other creative works are as inclusive as possible. Some other examples include: ensuring the use of inclusive language, inclusive images and videos, and usability.
If anything above resonates with you, drop me a note and let's talk!
Please note that I am NOT an accessibility expert, however, I'd be more than happy to connect you to some folks in my network that are. Again, just give me a shout!