We’re not getting any younger, that’s for sure. While I feel my proverbial beard growing, I’m trying to imagine the United Kingdom of 2034, in which, according to the Office of National Statistics, almost a quarter of our nation’s population (23%) will be over 65 years old. One of the most prevalent trends currently discussed in design is inclusiveness, finding innovative solutions to the challenges of an ageing population.

“Inclusive design is just better design” (Professor John Clarkson from Cambridge Engineering Design Centre)

Last autumn, the Technology Strategy board and Design Council announced the launch of “Independence matters”, a £2million project dedicated to finding innovative technologies, systems and approaches to help the elderly stay well and independent. The project invites designers, strategists and developers to work together in order to demonstrate how design-led solutions can enhance independent living and quality of life for older people.

One of the main challenges is to keep people living happily and in the comfort of their own homes for as long as possible. The other is to keep people socially (and digitally) connected. In many ways, “inclusive design is just better design” (Professor John Clarkson from Cambridge Engineering Design Centre) as many tools, be they kitchen appliances or digital apps, can cause frustration even to users who are young and able. The simpler products are to use, the better the experience is and the easier it is to integrate the product into our daily lives.

Despite the exponential increase of digital natives, there are still 9.2 million people in the UK that are digitally excluded, i.e. have never used the Internet, of which 6.4 million are over the age of 65. Not for profit social organisation ‘We are what we do’ recently launched a tool designed to help people get online. At internetbuttons.com, you can set up a home page for someone who may find it hard to navigate through the Internet. Similar to setting up a speed dial on a telephone, you can customise easily visible buttons as links to important pages or pages of interest. The aim is to get people from different generations to come together and, in this case, help open up different communication channels that can make life a lot easier for the elderly in many ways.

By nature, technology and design is becoming more inclusive. Many of the newer technology products already feature more organic functionalities that are more easily relatable to an older audience, such as touch screens, speech recognition and speech to text. Technology and its design will become increasingly more human / organic. For instance, if you’re reading Crime and Punishment on your kindle the device could feel heavier than when you’re reading the 192 paged The Man and the Sea.

Whether in web or product design, it’s important to be aware of the large percentage of our audience with disabilities and age related disabilities, be it impaired vision or limited mobility. Too many websites and print products feature font sizes that their target audience find hard to read. Content dictates design; even the most compelling message is nullified when it’s not easily legible and you want to be heard and seen by ALL your audience.

Shine is a sponsored night walk organised by Cancer Research to raise money for the charity. It is a night walk over 13 miles or 26 miles (depending on your stamina). Full details are here. To promote the event Cancer Research is asking a simple question:

Q: What will Make you Shine in 2010 #Shine2010

Help raise awareness of this most worthy cause by answering this question using #Shine2010 in your response. Put your response on Twitter, Facebook your own blog, wherever you can that connects you to your friends, family and colleagues to get them talking about this amazing event.

Here’s my answer to the Cancer Research question:

Using social media for good causes #Shine2010