Why Applied Development Is Embracing Universal Design for Barrier-Free Workflows
Imagine if every digital document, application, or website you use just worked – for everyone. That vision is at the heart of universal design, a user-centric approach to creating digital content that anyone can navigate and understand. And it’s a vision that’s driving a major shift in our strategy at Applied Development. This isn’t a trendy rebranding or a compliance checkbox exercise – it’s a deliberate change in direction. In this post, we’ll explore what universal design means in the digital world, why it boosts productivity and efficiency, and how it gives organizations a strategic edge. We’ll also share how AD’s pivot to universal design aligns with the modern workplace’s need for clarity and simplicity, and what it means for the services we offer our clients.
What is Universal Design in the Digital World?
At its core, universal design means designing products and content to be usable by the widest range of people, regardless of their abilities or circumstances. In a digital context, universal design overlaps with ideas of accessibility, usability, and inclusive design. Rather than creating separate “accessible” versions of content for people with disabilities, universal design encourages us to build one smart solution that works for everyone. For example, a well-structured website with clear navigation and text alternatives not only helps someone using a screen reader – it makes the site easier to use for all users, including those on mobile devices or in a hurry.
In fact, experts define universal design as “an inclusive design framework used to create barrier-free designs that are navigable and usable by everyone, including people with disabilities” (UX Series 1: Universal Design and Digital Accessibility - TPGi). Universal design isn’t limited to meeting accessibility standards; it’s a broader philosophy of user-centric content creation. When we adopt universal design principles, we’re ensuring that digital tools and information accommodate diverse needs from the start – so no one has to ask for special accommodations later.
Boosting Productivity Through Barrier-Free Workflows
One big reason AD is embracing universal design is that it improves productivity and saves time. Think about how much time is wasted when employees struggle to find information in a clunky interface or when a document’s formatting prevents someone from quickly extracting data. By designing digital workflows to be barrier-free, we remove those friction points. The result? Everyone gets more done in less time, with less frustration.
Consider an online form that’s clearly labeled and keyboard-accessible: all users – with or without a motor impairment – can fill it out faster and more accurately. Similarly, a well-organized internal knowledge base with logical headings and descriptive links means everyone can locate information without extra effort. When every employee, regardless of ability, can use the same tools easily, collaboration is smoother and workflows are more efficient.
Research backs this up. No wonder organizations that prioritize inclusive design see productivity gains (Universal Design: What's in it for Me? | Section508.gov). Many improvements that help people with disabilities end up helping everyone. For instance, providing captions on training videos not only benefits employees who are deaf or hard of hearing – it also allows anyone to watch a video on mute and still follow along (handy for a crowded office or for remote workers). When your digital environment doesn’t slow people down, you unlock more of your team’s potential.
Inclusive Design as a Strategic Business Advantage
Historically, many businesses saw accessibility as just a legal requirement – a box to tick to avoid lawsuits. But forward-thinking companies find that designing for all users gives them an edge in innovation, market reach, and customer loyalty.
There’s compelling evidence that designing for all is just smart business. Why? Because products and services that are easier to use attract more customers. In the digital realm, if your app or website is universally usable, you’re not turning away potential users. In short, barrier-free design isn’t just altruistic – it’s profitable.
Inclusive design also fuels innovation: when teams embrace the challenge of making technology work for everyone, they often devise creative solutions that benefit all users. By focusing on real user needs rather than designing for an “average” user, businesses build more robust, flexible products. In other words, universal design isn’t about extra work or cost – it’s an investment that pays off in performance.
Clarity, Simplicity, and Modern Workplace Needs
Applied Development’s move toward universal design also responds to the modern workplace’s changing demands. Today’s employees juggle a constant flow of digital information – emails, reports, dashboards, Zoom meetings – often across different devices and contexts. Clarity and simplicity have become survival traits in this environment. And in a remote/hybrid work world, digital communication must be barrier-free and easy to understand.
Universal design directly supports these needs. It calls for content that is clear and straightforward, interfaces that are intuitive, and technology that adapts to users – essentially, technology for effortless engagement. For example, imagine a project management dashboard designed with universal design principles: it uses plain language, high-contrast visuals, and consistent icons. Everyone from a new intern to a veteran manager can grasp their tasks at a glance. Such a tool reduces errors and needless repetition, freeing people to focus on their actual work.
Moreover, an inclusive approach aligns with the expectations of today’s workforce. Younger generations entering the job market expect workplace technology to be just as seamless as the apps on their phones. The U.S. government’s tech accessibility team noted that accessible workplaces and tools “promote greater diversity, better retention, and a more productive workforce,” and that the modern workforce expects accessibility and universal design to be built in from the start (Universal Design: What's in it for Me? | Section508.gov). In short, universal design = good design. It means information is presented in a clean, digestible way and nobody is left scratching their head or calling IT for help. By pivoting to this approach, AD is aligning with a future where simplicity and inclusivity drive productivity.
How AD is Putting Universal Design into Action
Moving toward universal design isn’t just a philosophy for us at Applied Development – it’s changing how we operate and the services we provide. Practically speaking, we’re infusing principles of usability and inclusivity into all our offerings, so that our clients can benefit from smart digital design without any extra hassle. Here are a few ways AD is pivoting to put universal design front and center:
Usability Consulting: We help organizations assess and improve the user-friendliness of their digital tools and content. Our experts conduct usability audits and user experience research to identify barriers in workflows. Then we guide teams on how to fix those pain points – whether it’s simplifying a software interface or reorganizing a website for clearer navigation. The goal is always a smoother, more efficient experience for everyone.
Digital Content Design: From websites and intranets to e-learning modules, we design content with clarity and accessibility in mind. This means using plain language, logical structure, and multimedia elements (like images with alt text or transcripts for videos) so that information is easy to consume. By creating content that follows universal design principles, we ensure communications are effective and inclusive – saving everyone time when they need to find or understand information.
Technical Communication: Making complex information understandable has always been one of AD’s strengths. In our documentation and technical writing services, we now emphasize barrier-free communication more than ever. That includes creating guides and manuals that are not only compliant with standards like Section 508 (for accessibility) but also optimized for usability. Think of a PDF report with proper headings, so a screen reader user can navigate it quickly. When your technical content is universally designed, support costs drop and user adoption of technology rises.
By focusing on these and other services through the lens of universal design, Applied Development is delivering solutions for digital efficiency. We want our clients to see technology as an enabler of effortless engagement, not a source of headaches.
Join Us on the Journey to a Barrier-Free Digital Workplace
Embracing universal design is a journey for us at AD, and we want to share it with you. This spring, our 508 Advantage division is hosting two complimentary workshops on digital usability (yes, free!) to help you build inclusive digital practices:
May 7 – Digital Design for Usability: An interactive workshop on building user-centric digital content and workflows. (Register for the May 7 workshop)
June 4 – Creating User-Centric PDFs: A deep dive into making PDF documents clear, navigable, and accessible for everyone. (Register for the June 4 workshop)
Feel free to join one or both sessions – it’s a great way to jump-start barrier-free practices in your organization.
And of course, if you’re ready to transform your workplace through smarter digital design, explore our offerings on Applied Development’s website. We’re here to help you create technology solutions that work for everyone. Let’s eliminate those barriers together and unlock your team’s full potential!