Can we actually build for everyone?
When we talk about addressing inequitable design as a global challenge, a common pushback is: “You can’t design everything for everyone.” It’s a reasonable concern. After all, resources are finite, and the complexity of human diversity can feel overwhelming. But the goal isn’t to create one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, it’s to be strategic, data-driven, and intentional about prioritization.
Let’s unpack how we can address this challenge, and why the idea of designing for “everyone” is not only possible but necessary.
Designing for equity doesn’t mean spreading resources too thin in an attempt to serve every need simultaneously. We want to aim at dismantling what we call the Framework of Exclusion: the systemic design patterns that consistently leave out entire groups of people. This framework prioritizes dominant identities, often under the guise of perceived neutrality, while marginalizing everyone else.
To combat this, we need to use data and research to figure out who to prioritize in the first iteration, based on where the exclusion is most pronounced and where the need is largest. Focus on making impactful changes that serve the most marginalized communities, knowing that these changes often benefit everyone. Here’s why prioritization works:
Using disaggregated data to guide design priorities makes our approach both strategic and defensible. Instead of relying on assumptions, we base our decisions on evidence, focusing our efforts where they can make the most difference. This ensures that our solutions are rooted in reality, not guesswork.
Designing for those who are most excluded often creates benefits for a much wider audience, (we call this the curb cut effect). Curb cuts were initially created to aid wheelchair users but have since become indispensable for people with strollers, delivery workers, and travellers with luggage. Similarly, captions on videos were designed for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, but they also benefit non-native language speakers and people watching content in noisy environments.
Embracing an iterative process means understanding that design isn’t static; it evolves. The first version of a product, service, or policy may not be perfect, but it should be a significant step forward in dismantling the Framework of Exclusion. From there, we refine, adapt, and expand, using ongoing data and feedback to guide our improvements.
It’s true: resources are limited. But that’s not an excuse for inaction. Here’s how we can make prioritization work within real-world constraints:
Be open about your decision-making process. Explain why you’re prioritizing certain groups and how doing so can create broader benefits. Transparency builds trust and helps people understand that prioritization isn’t arbitrary but strategic.
Prioritization doesn’t mean permanent exclusion. The idea is to sequence your work to have the greatest impact first. Once the most pressing gaps are addressed, you can expand your efforts to include other groups. It’s about making steady, meaningful progress rather than aiming for immediate perfection.
Sometimes, collaboration is key. Organizations can pool resources, share data, and build coalitions to address complex design challenges together. Equity work isn’t a solo endeavor; it thrives in collaborative environments where collective expertise drives broader, sustainable impact.
We need to recognize and actively dismantle the Framework of Exclusion that exists in our systems. This framework has been reinforced over time by design choices that default to the needs of a narrow “average” user. It’s why fire safety gear is often too large and ill-fitting for female firefighters, and why public transit fails to account for the complex, multi-stop journeys of caregivers, most often women. Understanding, the idea isn’t to blame the past, but to make better decisions for the future.
Equity must be intentional, measurable, and embedded into every stage of design. There is a very serious and urgent need to start equipping professionals with the skills to interpret data, understand historical context, and iterate responsibly. It’s a shift from seeing equity as an abstract value to recognizing it as a critical, technical expertise.
Imagine a world where medical devices are designed with a wide range of skin tones in mind, so they deliver accurate readings for everyone. Or where urban planners start their projects by engaging with the communities who will be most affected, using their input to shape safer, more accessible neighborhoods. This is what it looks like to design with Equity as a Technical Skill.
We can’t solve every design challenge at once, and that’s okay. What matters is our commitment to progress, not perfection. By dismantling the Framework of Exclusion and designing with intentionality, we ensure our solutions are strategic and rooted in equity. The goal is a habit and culture of designing with purpose, sequencing our efforts, and staying accountable.
Next time someone asks if we can really design for everyone, let’s reframe the conversation. It’s not about doing everything at once. It’s about doing the right things, in the right order, for the right reasons. And as we keep iterating, we move closer to a world where design truly serves the full spectrum of human experience.
