What’s the problem
Too many products, services, and spaces are still created without disabled people in mind. These unfair experiences often go unnoticed, but they limit independence, dignity, and opportunity every day.
What we’re doing about it
Designability is leading a flagship national research initiative to change that. The Unfair Index is the largest inclusive design research project of its kind in the UK, shaped by the lived experience of disabled people.
The research is delivered in partnership with Lived Experience Advisors, charities, and corporate allies.
What we’ll achieve
This work aims to uncover the top areas where unfairness is urgent, harmful, and fixable in everyday life. Insights will create opportunities for inclusive innovation in product and service design.
Areas of unfairness
Transport and Mobility
Products and Services
Spaces and Buildings
How you can take part
We have put together a survey which covers many areas of modern life so that you can tell us your feedback and experiences. We want to hear from as many disabled people, unpaid carers, and parents of disabled children and adults as we can.
Visit the survey page to share your views
Complete your answers by midnight on 24 March
Look out for our first campaign, influenced by you
Need help accessing the survey? Get in touch
“The Unfair Index will allow us to focus on the most effective ways to make the world fairer for everybody.”
Jim Bowes, CEO, Designability
How will we measure unfairness?
We will use a custom framework called the DSIGN Index to understand how unfairness affects everyday life. It helps pinpoint where change is most needed and where better design can make a difference.
Each life domain is explored through these five dimensions. These dimensions help build a clear picture of what’s difficult, how it feels, and how inclusive design could help.
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Degree of Unfairness
How often and how severely do people experience barriers?
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Sense of Urgency
How urgently do people want this issue to be fixed?
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Impact on Independence
How much does it affect someone’s ability to live independently, safely or with dignity?
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Growth Potential
How fixable is the issue through better design?
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Needs Met or Unmet
How much does the issue affect overall life satisfaction?
Project timeline
Co-designing the research study
October 2025 – January 2026
Survey launches
27 January 2026
Findings reported and shared
April – May 2026
Who are the Lived Experience Advisors?
The Lived Experience Advisors are a panel of disabled people who have been working with us to shape what this research looks like and how we will use it to inform our future inclusive design projects.
It was and is important that everything we do is influenced by people with lived experience so that it reflects those who are facing these daily challenges.
Introducing Designability
The world is full of barriers for people whose bodies work differently, because society isnʼt designed with everyone in mind. For disabled people, those barriers can take away things that everyone deserves – freedom, confidence, opportunity.
We invent solutions that remove barriers disabled people face everyday. It starts at our workbenches, with pencils in hand. It works because we listen to disabled people. We design with them.
