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When products are developed for the elderly, they tend to be ugly and an unwanted signal of fragility. As a result, people who need walkers or canes often resist. Once upon a time, a cane was stylish: Today it is seen as a medical device. Why can’t we have walkers and canes for everyday use, to help us in everyday life, to carry our packages, provide a way to sit when we are tired, or viewing some event, and yes, to maintain our balance? Make them items of pride, stylish enough that everyone will want one.

We've created a false narrative that designing things that are accessible means designing things that "look" accessible, and therefore awful. I am very happy to see industry people pointing this out for the falsehood that it is.

Design is the intentional solution to a problem within a set of constraints. The most significant constraint is what you think you’re solving for. 9 I absolutely love this. Erika is one hundred percent right - we need to be honest about the business we're designing for.

To the the extent that the business takes place in software, designing the software is designing the business. Designers either need to participate in defining the business model or they will simply be its tool.

Please read this - it's well worth it!

Very important points by Ethan here. I've always used the analogy of security when talking to tech people about accessibility: you can make an online product more secure, but it is impossible to make it 100% secure.

If you're in SE England you should go to this!