Thinking inclusively will pay off in the long term

In response to your Voxpop item on the Design Business Association 24 Hour Inclusive Design Challenge (DW 19 April), I would like to state that the aim of the challenge is to develop the capability and language of designers to deal with the issues that arise when designing inclusively, something that should now happen as a matter of course in any project.

Reverse engineering the design process, and by this I mean designing a solution and then finding a client that fits, is not what we’re advocating.

Demographics conclusively point to a growing market of disabled and elderly consumers. An ability to tap into this market is likely to deliver a greater return on design investment.

This is the capability that this scheme develops within the businesses that take part.

Deborah Dawton, Chief executive, Design Business Association, London EC1