Designing more inclusive user interfaces

A careful design of user interfaces means that information and instructions are correctly communicated. One important aspect is color. However, if a user has a color deficiency or blindness, color can be challenging.

Colorblindness is a lot more common than people think. Worldwide, there are approximately 300 million people with colorblindness, almost the same number of people as the entire population of the USA. The most common types of colorblindness are due to the loss or limited function of red or green cone photopigments. This type of colorblindness is commonly referred to as red-green colorblindness but also includes all colors that contain red or green components. Ross Hannibal is affected, too.

It first showed up during his childhood when he lost a bright red sweater on a green lawn. “My mom noticed I couldn't find the sweater. That was the first hint,” Ross remembers. Today, he understands his limitations: “I can't tell the difference between something that's blue and something that's purple, because purple has red in it, so I can't see the difference.”

And this had a decisive impact on Ross’ career: “I went to school initially as an industrial designer, and for whatever reason, I didn't really think it would have an effect.” You need to have an eye for colors for this career, so he switched to engineering, which he really enjoys. Ross even sees his colorblindness as an advantage: “I can test interfaces to see how they would do with someone who has a color deficiency.”

For the last 20 years, Ross led the User Experience (UX) design of Varian’s linear accelerators (LINACs), which are used to treat cancer patients with radiation therapy. This role comprised of a variety of tasks, such as sketching to create the new UI layout, observing users performing their functions or doing a user task analysis to see where the workflow could be improved. Having a passion for sketching and design made Ross a natural fit for this task. But also his colorblindness makes him particularly well suited to this role. 

Today, he helps manage the innovation portfolio at Varian which also includes UX innovations. “I’m focusing on the bigger picture rather than specific interactions. For example, I’m working on making the LINAC design more accessible for pediatric patients”, Ross explains. “I want to create innovations that inspire not just the users, but everyone involved in providing quality cancer care.

For Ross, good user interfaces are designed to be inclusive and accessible. “With my variation, I bring in the perspective of any partially or completely colorblind user. And by doing so, I make sure we are using multiple codes to increase the amount of people who are able to use the interface appropriately.” One way to achieve this goal is to add a second way to understand the message, for example by adding a shape or icon to clarify the communication.

He is convinced: Everyone will have a variation at one point, either due to sickness, age, an accident, or some other circumstance. Not all of them might be apparent, but all deserve to be considered in the design process, no matter whether it’s an office space, a medical device, or a simple water dispenser. 

“I want to make sure that our designs are more sustainable, so that they help current generations without harming future generations,” he explains. For that, Ross teams up with colortypical colleagues. “Together, we can do better design, and this is what it’s all about: Anyone could have a variation, we are all different.” For him, bringing differences together is where true innovative strength and sustainability come from.