Inclusive UX: Centering Marginalized Users at Cal Poly

The focus of human-centered design should be on centering all users in an inclusive manner by considering different design considerations, methods, and practices (Shalamova, 2019). Through this project I will research ways in which UX has pushed certain types of people intentionally or unintentionally to the margins and explore potential solutions as design recommendations for inclusive UX focusing primarily on Cal Poly student technology and resources (Lahlou, 2017). The users I will be focusing on are students of color, students with disabilities, first-generation college students, and disadvantaged students. In the context of virtual learning in the midst of a global pandemic, inclusive UX is necessary for all student success at Cal Poly. The goal of this project is to explore and produce potential solutions through creating design recommendations centering all users in an inclusive manner by considering different design considerations, methods, and practices for inclusive UX focusing primarily on the Cal Poly Portal. The intended users are students of color, students with disabilities, first-generation college students, and disadvantaged students. This project is relevant because of a recent Cal Poly College of Engineering (CENG) COVID-19 Resilience Survey where students voiced concern about the overall disorganization and lack of standardized structure among the interfaces they use and how it causes them stress, anxiety, and to lack in their engagement of virtual education. The focus of human-centered design should be on centering all users in an inclusive manner and the Cal Poly Portal, an essential and necessary interface students must use daily, currently does not exhibit this. In the context of virtual learning in the midst of a global pandemic, inclusive UX is necessary for all student success at Cal Poly and it will allow Cal Poly to improve student technology and resources to be more inclusive, welcoming, and user-friendly