Queer Global: A Case Study in Designing for Dignity
This talk will highlight the UX work of the Queer Global team to design for dignity in the specific areas of accessibility and universal design, and design ethics, strategy, and integration. In this case study, we will how a globally diverse team of people collaborating across the globe to ensure a respectful, usable experience for our customers, users, and team.
Queer Global, a NY-based organization, is dedicated to helping under-represented people, both in and out of the rainbow umbrella, gain a sense of dignity, relief, and inclusivity by providing a single platform offering links to resources, surgeons, doctors, and therapists, as well as a comprehensive listing of worldwide events, support groups, product lines, and queer-owned companies that cater to marginalized people around the globe.
Learning Objectives
We will discuss our design process and accompanying approach to accessibility, diversity, and inclusion for this project, which involves:
- The vast diversity of the site building team includes people from different countries
- Using a dedicated accessibility auditor since the start of the project
- Understanding, researching, and testing accessibility in terms of universally across the globe
- Private accessibility in countries where being queer is not publicly accepted or illegal
- Ensuring to offer accurate and inclusive representation with photos and images
- Avoiding the too-frequent use of stock images of straight white models waving rainbow flags
- Accounting for diversity including ethnicity, size, shape, age, gender, and more
- Intentional usage of the Rainbow symbol and colors to avoid appearing “stereotypically queer”
- Solicitation of art and photos from LGBTQ+ community members to showcase on the site