Introduction

Guidance for Inclusive Visualizations

Guidance for Inclusive Visualizations

Global Accessibility Awareness Day, celebrated annually in May, focuses on providing digital access and inclusion for the more than one billion people alive today who live with disabilities.

As designers, we have a responsibility to tell inclusive stories through thoughtful visualizations. Last year, Part II Architectural Assistant Evie Martin and Architect Director Vicky Casey collaborated with Human Space, to create the BDP People Library, a collection of diverse, considered, vector-illustrated characters for use in project renderings. The accompanying guidance document explores the idea of considering the specific social context and context of place, as well as bringing awareness to the impact of all details within images that can ultimately help to portray a sense of appropriate diversity and inclusion.

This year, we are delighted to share our complete External Guidance for Inclusive Visualizations with designers in the built environment. It is freely accessible and designed to encourage critical examination of how they can effectively convey inclusive narratives through visualizations, illustrations, and graphics. By disseminating this guidance document throughout the industry, our intention is to inspire others to reflect on the inclusivity of their own designs, update their available resources, and even share the measures they have taken to foster a culture of creative, people-centered design. Click here to view the document.