Dumbo’s ears made him different. Others saw them as a problem, something unusual that needed to be hidden. But those same ears eventually became the reason he could fly.
There’s a powerful lesson here for UX designers: sometimes, the problem isn’t the person. It’s the design.
The Myth of the Average User
UX often starts with an imaginary “average user.”
Average vision. Average hearing. Average motor ability. Average device. Average environment. Average experience level.
But real users aren’t average. They vary.
Some people navigate with keyboards. Others rely on voice input, need larger text, use smaller screens, or interact with products in bright outdoor environments.
When we design around a single assumed user, we risk creating barriers for everyone who doesn’t fit that assumption.
Accessibility Is More Than a Checklist
Accessibility includes screen readers, colour contrast, and keyboard navigation. But it also means considering different abilities, devices, environments, and levels of experience.
Imagine a simple task: completing a form.
One person uses a keyboard. Another uses voice input. Someone else needs larger text, while another completes the form on a small screen outdoors.
Different needs. Same goal.
Good UX doesn’t require everyone to follow the exact same path. It makes the goal achievable through experiences that accommodate different needs.
Ask Better Questions
Instead of asking, “How do we make everyone use this the same way?”, ask:
“How can different people use this successfully?”
That shift changes how we approach research, content, visuals, navigation, interactions, and feedback.
Before designing or shipping a product, ask:
- Who might struggle here?
- What creates the barrier?
- Can we eliminate or reduce it?
- Can the solution work for more people?
- Have we tested it with users who have different needs?
Accessibility starts with noticing barriers—and then doing something about them.
Design One Strong Experience for More People
A common mistake is to build the main experience first and create a separate accessibility version later.
Instead, aim for one strong experience that works for more people.
For example:
- Clear labels help users understand controls.
- Captions support people who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as people watching without sound.
- Good contrast helps people with low vision and those using screens in bright sunlight.
- Keyboard navigation supports people who cannot or prefer not to use a mouse.
Inclusive design often benefits more people than we initially expect.
Don’t Assume. Test.
Before shipping, check whether users can navigate without a mouse, whether focus states are visible, whether text is readable, and whether colour contrast is sufficient.
Make sure labels explain controls, errors are clear and actionable, meaning isn’t communicated through colour alone, and touch targets are usable.
Consider whether the experience works with assistive technologies, and test it with people who have different needs.
A checklist is a starting point, not a substitute for testing.
The Real UX Lesson
Accessibility isn’t about making users adapt to the product.
It’s about removing unnecessary barriers so more people can reach the same goal.
Dumbo’s ears weren’t something he needed to hide. They were part of what made his ability to fly possible.
Similarly, differences between users aren’t design flaws. They are a reality that thoughtful design should accommodate.
Don’t treat difference as the problem. Look for the barrier. Because sometimes, the thing that needs changing isn’t the user. It’s the design.
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