Day 3: The Curb Cut Effect
Medium | 07.01.2026 18:31
If you have ever used an automatic door while your hands were full of groceries, you have benefited from inclusive design.
The "Curb Cut Effect" is a cornerstone of accessibility. It refers to the 1970s movement where activists fought for sloped ramps on sidewalk corners for wheelchair users. What they discovered was that once those ramps existed, everyone used them. Parents, travelers, and cyclists all found the world easier to navigate.
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Inclusion as Innovation
Many founders and designers I speak with worry that accessibility is a "burden" that slows down development. I argue the opposite: accessibility is an innovation engine.
When you solve for a specific constraint like designing a ride-hailing app that can be navigated entirely by voice, you end up with a more intuitive interface for every user. You are essentially stress-testing your product against the most difficult scenarios. If it works there, it will work anywhere.
The Nigerian Context
In Nigeria, we see this in our digital landscape every day. Features built for low-bandwidth environments or high-glare outdoor usage are forms of inclusive design that help a massive portion of the population navigate their daily lives.
Day 3 Task: Spot the "Invisible" Inclusion
Today, pay attention to the tools you take for granted. Is it the "Read Aloud" feature on your Kindle? The "Dark Mode" on your phone? The ramp at your favorite mall?
When we stop seeing inclusion as a charity and start seeing it as a superior way to build, we change the world