Inclusive Design for Users with Language and Literacy Needs

In our increasingly global marketplace, products frequently encounter users who may not share the designer’s language, while millions of adults worldwide have limited literacy skills due to educational circumstances, learning differences, or cultural factors. This article outlines strategies for creating more inclusive designs that communicate effectively across language barriers and literacy levels, ensuring products can be understood and used safely by diverse global populations.

• Use universal symbols, icons, or pictures, such as arrows for direction, communicating instructions visually, without requiring text explanation.
• Use consistent color associations (i.e. red for stop/danger, green for go/safe) that don’t rely on text labels for meaning.
• Include multilingual audio options, with easy language switching capabilities.
• Add voice-guided navigation.
• Where text is necessary, write in plain, simple language, avoiding jargon.
• Include real-time translation options, voice control, or read aloud options for digital products.
• Avoid culturally specific references and focus on globally understood symbols
• Use colors, animations, or icons to show problems and solutions rather than text-based error messages.
• Create simple and intuitive designs that are easy to use without requiring reading instructions first.

Opportunities for Product Modification

• Fire extinguishers have critical safety instructions yet are often text-heavy and language-specific. Could be redesigned with step-by-step pictorial instructions and color-coded operation steps.
• Furniture assembly kits often assume reading ability and cultural familiarity with assembly processes. Could improve with purely visual instructions and logical assembly sequences.
• Fertilizer packages and plant care instructions are often text-dependent. Could use growth stage illustrations, seasonal color coding, or universal care symbols.
• Product selection and payment instructions in vending machines often assume reading ability. Could create visual product displays, pictorial payment guides, or universal selection symbols.
• Soap dispensers and hand dryers in public bathrooms often have text-only instructions. Could be enhanced with pictorial operation guides or universal hygiene symbols.