File 04
Design That Works
Good design is not generosity. It is a specification, a test and a signature.
Products, interfaces, environments and services that were built to work for the full range of people who use them — and the decisions that made it happen.
The entries
5 in this file
| Measure | Where it bites | Signed off by | Order of cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain Language Is Not Dumbing Down | Forms, letters, guidance | Whoever owns the words | Editing time |
| Contrast Is Not Optional | Screens and signage | Design lead | Nothing at all |
| Two Ways to Communicate the Same Thing | Announcements and alerts | Service owner | A second channel |
| When Inclusive Design Saves Money | The business case | Project sponsor, at concept | Early hours, late savings |
| Testing With Real Users | Before launch | Research budget holder | Participant fees |
Read them
Longest first is not the order; the register's is.
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Text entry
Plain Language Is Not Dumbing Down
Complex prose does not signal expertise. It signals that the writer forgot who needs to read the sentence.
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Contrast Is Not Optional
Colour contrast is one of the most precisely measurable accessibility requirements in design — and one of the most routinely ignored.
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Two Ways to Communicate the Same Thing
Redundant design isn't duplication — it's the difference between a system that works for everyone and one that works for most
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When Inclusive Design Saves Money
The cost argument for inclusive design is real — but only under specific conditions. Here is when it holds, and when it doesn't.
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Testing With Real Users
Walks through what meaningful accessibility testing with disabled users looks like — as opposed to automated checks, internal reviews, or a single sign-off session — and what organisations typically get wrong about when and how to involve people. Practical and specific.