Training and Consultancy

RNIB product design consultancy

Summary: If you are a business, RNIB can help you make your products and services accessible.

• How RNIB can help you
• What is inclusive design?
• Ergonomic Assessments
• User Trials
• The RNIB Reference
• Recent case studies
• To find out more please contact us:

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How RNIB can help you

Our products consultancy department works with product designers and manufacturers to help improve the usability and marketability of mainstream and specialist products for people with sight loss or other disabilities.

This is achieved through our product design assessment service which can include ergonomic assessments, user trials and expert design advice. This can often lead to the award of an RNIB Reference which recognises accessibility and inclusive design. Details of this process are provided below.

What is inclusive design?

Inclusive design is the design of mainstream products and services in such a way that as many people as possible can use them easily - whatever their age and ability. This does not mean that manufacturers are expected to design every product to be usable by every consumer - there will always be some people who need specialist equipment. But when inclusive design principles are adopted, the number of people requiring specialist and expensive alternative equipment will be fewer.

Ergonomic Assessments

Our assessment process usually begins with an ergonomic assessment. This involves an assessment of the product design by an expert consultant based on the principles of inclusive design. Clients can provide the existing or prototype product for assessment or we can meet the designers to discuss the issues face-to-face. A report is then provided highlighting the good and bad practice features, accompanied by relevant recommendations for improvement.

User Trials

Although following the principles of sound inclusive and ergonomic design will normally bring great benefits to the environment or product, there are often cases where users will struggle unexpectedly. Including disabled people via user trials is therefore of great importance. RNIB use many ways to involve end users when assessing products, including focus groups, think aloud exercises, user diaries, observation, questionnaires, interviews and controlled experiments. A report is provided summarising the process and including user comments, accompanied by relevant recommendations for improvement.

The RNIB Reference

Our assessment reports include essential and desirable recommendations for improvement. If the essential recommendations can be implemented we are happy to award the RNIB Reference, although some products, such as medical devices, are not eligible.

The RNIB Reference allows manufacturers to display the RNIB logo on their product and the RNIB logo accompanied by a qualifying piece of text on supporting literature and marketing materials. The qualifying text is important to indicate the level of accessibility of the product, which will be important for customers seeking to find suitable products. This can broaden a manufacturer's customer base and increase sales, as well as improve the lives of disabled people through better access to more accessible products.

Recent case studies

Click on the links below to find out more about recent approved products.

Titan Environmental Ltd - wheelie bin lid

Triton Showers - Safeguard T100 Care Shower

To find out more please contact us:

RNIB Disability Access Services

Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, Peterborough, PE2 6XU

Telephone 01733 375370

Email disabilityaccessservices@rnib.org.uk

Content author: busdev@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 15/01/2009 15:27