IN THE MARGINS
Accessibility simply means access
Accessibility isn’t just assistive technology or wheelchair ramps. It can be using language that meets a range of reading comprehension and literacy levels or adapting structure for those with cognitive challenges. It can be availability of resources, such as implementing equitable pricing of a product or offering extended payment plans for a service.
Many people hear “accessibility” and feel overwhelmed at the thought of implementing it in their daily life or feel legal fear in regards to their business. It’s simply giving the greatest amount of access to the greatest number of people. Is captioning your content dope? Hell yeah! But so is offering a replay of your middle-of-the-workday webinar for people in different timezones or that have traditionally timed day jobs.
If you do what you can with where you are now, that’s better than doing nothing.
You got this!
ACCESSIBILITY
A CODA Story: Why Accessible Tech Matters
I’m always screaming about “CAPTION YOUR CONTENT!”. But let’s be real, when people are faced with something that seems daunting or an inconvenience, you can sometimes better convince them to change their behavior by using emotion. We’ve seen the way Apple uses lifestyle-focused ads to make you feel like their products are central to your connection to others. Well, Google did something similar with their Oscar’s ad for their captioning capabilities and why accessible tech matters. Showing how accessibility connects you to loved ones, and is a way to show you care about them, is a great approach - marketing ploy or not.
Tumblr Personalities
Dani Donovan of ADHD Comics asked on Twitter if any neurodiverse people used planners or not and why. The stationery area isn’t something I had considered in terms of accessibility. I have seen webinars start with “safe spaces” messaging and sometimes included language along the lines of “exist in the space how you need”, such as if playing with clay helps you stay focused on the webinar, play away!
What this tweet made me think of is the weird shift on Tumblr of younger people claiming to be neurodivergent, or anything other than neurotypical, as a way to be unique - as if it’s a personality trait or something to pick up whenever you want. Why would people want to claim something that is related to oppression? It’s not my place to define who can claim a medical diagnosis or not, but there’s a strange space between not dictating self-identification and appropriation. Like Black people say: “they want our rhythm but not our blues” so if you claim something, take everything that comes with it.
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Inclusive Emojis
Inclusion can happen at all levels: from government policies to the daily tech we use. A lot of our habits or mindsets are formed subconsciously from our environments - thus why representation matters. What’s seen as “normal” can be shaped by what we are exposed to. Even though you personally might not know a sign language user or a multicultural couple, seeing representation of them begins to normalize it so that when you do see them in real life, it’s not a moment of shock or confusion.
The operating system for Apple devices has been updated for more inclusive emojis by adding a variety of skin tone options and gender expressions. Last year’s updates included mobility devices (such as a motorized wheelchair and white cane) and assistive technology, such as hearing aids (HA). As a HA user myself, I hope they expand to different types beyond just behind-the-ear but this is a good start!
A Global-Sourced Font
We Are Distillery kicked off an amazing initiative by creating a globally diverse typeface design. “The Diversity Type Project” aims to encourage brands, agencies & communities globally, to engage in the diversity conversation. They held an open call for people to submit a single letter, which could then be chosen as part of the final typeface. They encouraged all contributions of a character design, regardless of skill set, with emphasis on the letters being inspired by personal stories, backgrounds, or life choices. The font will be ready to download starting on Friday, 21 May, which is fittingly World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. WED is asking all those who download the final font to donate to the following charities: Disasters Emergency Committee, The Diversity Trust, and UN Women as a way to raise money for these organizations that champion diversity and inclusion around the world.
See more about their partners for this project: People of Print, Femme Type, and Diversity Standards Collective
ART & DESIGN
Calling Designers of All Disciplines
San Diego Design Week looks at the power of design in action — to rethink, transform, and renew — as they envision a path forward. The program will showcase projects and events related to: Connection, Activism, Equity, Balance, Sustainability, Education, Play, Transformation, and Resilience.
They are looking for submissions for talks, workshops, studio tours, self-guided tours, and more!
And they want a variety of disciplines, such as animation, architecture, audio, craft, culinary, gaming, graphic, fashion, furniture, industrial, interior, landscape, product, sustainability, and more!
Check out some programs from last year:
On Brand: Hip Hop as Storytelling | Ramel Wallace
Design in 48 Hours: A Social Justice Campaign | Raygun & Good Measure
Silcrow: Signum Sectionis
I loved philosophy books that used the section symbol (silcrow) so I used it in SBLTN’s visual identity - the white double S at the top of this email. Soon, I was diving into typography and learning about glyphs.
Every now and then I nerd out on the history of glyphs like with this quick overview of the silcrow. *Fun fact: A modified version of the section sign is used throughout the video game The Sims, as a symbol for its fictitious currency, the Simoleon.
Signing off from the Starship SBLTN,
Laneen (Pronouns: she/they)
🎧 Listening - Andrea Bocelli - Amazing Grace (COVID edition haha)
💬 Quote - "The DJ is the intuition of hip hop" - Ramel J. Wallace
📖 Reading - "Creative Strategy & The Business of Design" by Douglas Davis (finally finished haha book review maybe?)
🖊️ Word of the Day - DJ: A disc jockey, abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience.