Test out your service without one body part

A super short Service Design principle about accessibility made simple

These days I have a bit of a funny morning routine. I clean the flat with a baby in my right arm while I move, clean, tidy things with the left arm. When you do this you notice that many of the products that are around you are pretty hard to use with one hand.

Sometimes a little bit of role-playing helps you realize where there are issues in your service.

So, take a minute today to test your service or product with one less hand. Or by closing your eyes. Or with loud music in your ears. What happens? What stops working?

Title variations

The title of this principle isn't yet there. So here are a few explorations of alternative titles:

Try your service with a handicap
Test out your service as if you had a handicap
Test out your service without one body part

Little side notes

This is the second draft of this Service Design Principle.
I was able to reduce the lengths by 39.63% compared to the first version.
Once adapted, even more, this principle will be part of the book "Service Design Principles 201-300"
As always feel free to share comments, feedback or personal stories to improve this principle.

5 comments

Patrick Marcelissen

May 5, 2022

I suggest title 2.
Or immerse yourself in people with a handicap/ disability

Daniele Catalanotto

May 6, 2022

Really like your suggested title Patrick. Thanks :)

Deleted

Oct 28, 2022

Be careful what term you use — handicapped, disabled, alterabled, or whatever. (Don’t know the preferred term now.)

Also, this issue comes up for elderly. I was in a busy park restroom with heavy doors and nowhere to stand while waiting w/o getting trampled or slammed. I don’t have to worry about brittle bones, but if I did …

Left handedness is also an issue. It’s tough to use some products, like scissors. Interestingly, I just bought a pair of hiking socks from Icebreaker. They offer an anatomic fit version, with a left and right sock.

Daniele Catalanotto

Oct 31, 2022

Thanks JJ for the additional examples ;)

Daniele Catalanotto

Oct 31, 2022

The third draft of this Service Design Principle

Try your service with one less sense

These days I have a funny morning routine. I have the baby in my right arm while I move, clean, and tidy things with my left arm. When you do this, you notice that many products around you aren't made for people with disabilities.

Sometimes a little role-play session reveals issues in your service.

So let me ask.

When can you schedule five minutes to try your service with one less hand, your eyes closed, or loud music in your ears this week?

Daniele’s notes

This is the third draft of this principle.
I’ve reduced the length of this principle by 19 % compared to the previous draft.
I turned the conclusion into a question form to fit the other principles in the book that will all end with a question.
I’ve reworked the principle title to reflect more the idea of the role play as suggested by a comment from Patrick Marcelissen