There are many factors that create barriers to inclusive research, from inaccessible prototyping tools to stringent project processes and limited accessibility testing at the end of a project. It’s difficult to access consumers with disabilities because the Research platforms are designed to capture the ‘average’ consumer experience.

This project investigates how inclusive co-design applied through a disability lens can shape Consumer Research to involve individuals from equity-deserving communities who have been excluded due to systemic barriers. The co-design sessions are informed by Inclusive Design Principles, Community Based Research and Indigenous Knowledge Systems to reframe meaningful co-designer /co-researcher engagement.

Voluntary co-designers / co-researchers joined the project only after initial engagements with different disability communities. The project includes upfront commitments to pay equity, ongoing consent and attribution. Research stages evolved from the feedback to ensure clarity and relevance. My role as a researcher changed to a facilitator, making space for the co-designers / co-researchers to lead from their own lived experiences. Session topics were adapted to be relatable and to support imaginative and exploratory engagement. Applying inclusive co-design principles through a disability lens captures a wide range of perspectives across equity-deserving communities and supports re-envisioning the consumer research process.