Exclusive Design
Exclusive Design is a user-centered design methodology that focuses on creating products and services specifically for people with disabilities, rather than trying to make inclusive designs that work for everyone. It emphasizes designing for extreme cases first, which often leads to innovative solutions that benefit all users. The approach challenges traditional inclusive design by prioritizing the needs of marginalized groups to drive creativity and accessibility.
Developers should learn Exclusive Design when building applications for specific disability groups, such as screen readers for the blind or voice interfaces for motor-impaired users, to ensure deep accessibility. It is particularly useful in healthcare, assistive technology, or government projects where legal compliance (e.g., ADA, WCAG) and user empowerment are critical. By focusing on extreme users, it can uncover unique insights that improve overall product robustness and innovation.