UX, CX, Service Designers take Note

Chris Downey says,

I’ve heard it said in the disability community that there are really only two types of people: There are those with disabilities, and there are those that haven’t quite found theirs yet. It’s a different way of thinking about it, but I think it’s kind of beautiful, because it is certainly far more inclusive than the us-versus-them or the abled-versus-the-disabled, and it’s a lot more honest and respectful of the fragility of life.

 Chris Downey: Design with the blind in mind I think about the art classes I took after college. I found that art was about seeing, observation and understanding as much as it was about drawing and sketching. Once you were able to see shadows, it was much easier to draw them. What we can learn from people that recognize their disabilities may be more insightful than from others that haven’t.

I find this is a very fresh perspective for developing Personas, User Experiences, Customer Journeys and other Customer Experiences that we attempt.  As Chris alluded to above; should we have someone that recognizes their disabilities on our development teams? What are we missing without this perspective?

From Ted:

Chris Downey is an architect, planner, and consultant. Working with design teams and clients, he draws on his unique perspective as a seasoned architect without sight, helping to realize environments that offer not only greater physical accessibility, but also a dimension of delight in architecture experienced through other senses.

Downey enjoyed 20 years of distinguished practice on award-winning custom residences and cultural institutions before losing his sight. One of the few practicing blind architects in the world, Downey has been featured in many media stories and speaks regularly about issues relative to visual impairments and architectural design.