Introduction

During this period of time, the demand has continuously grown to make it more accessible to the widest range of users in the context of a fast dissemination process of mobile applications (MA) along with the rapid development of mobile technologies. Inclusive design concerning the users of diversified physical and cognitive capabilities has turned into an integral component of mobile interface development. It should be convenient and functional for the use of all categories of citizens, including persons with disabilities, elderly people, and people of different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Making a product inclusive in the context of globalization and corporate social responsibility has acquired a particular significance.

The present research study develops the best practices for creating user interfaces with regard to inclusiveness. Much attention is given to such main principles of inclusive design as content accessibility, simplicity, and clarity of the interface, or use of technologies that improve application interaction for users with various needs.

Main part. The concept of inclusive design

Inclusive design is a philosophy and an approach to product development in order to meet the diverse needs of the user, ranging from people with disabilities to elderly citizens, including those who may face barriers for cultural or linguistic reasons [1]. Other than universal design, which is oriented toward the creation of products for the majority, at least the inclusive design philosophy drafts solutions that might be used by as many users as possible from a very large perspective, regardless of their physical or cognitive or even social characteristics.

Inclusive design treats the needs of people with disabilities as part and parcel of the general audience and not as exceptional cases. Users are experiencing various forms of impairments related to vision, hearing, mobility, or cognitive. According to estimates by the World Health Organization, 1,3 billion people in the whole world live with significant health impairments, constituting 16% of the population in the whole world.

However, inclusive design does not stop at providing solutions for users with disabilities. It also involves creating universal solutions that are convenient and effective for all categories of users. It is important to underline that inclusive design, based on the principles of accessibility, flexibility, and simplicity, allows improving the interaction with applications for people of all ages and social backgrounds.

Key principles of inclusive design in MA

The principles of inclusive design are actively implemented in MA to eliminate barriers that may arise due to users’ physical conditions or varying levels of proficiency with technological products (fig. 1).

Figure 1. Principles of inclusive design

For visually impaired users, applications should use text alternatives for images and make strong contrast between the text and its background to promote better visibility.

Applications can, where possible, include font size adjustment options and maybe incorporate voice commands as well. Such applications must support subtitling of video clippings with text notifications about other alternative visual signals that also provide critical information without relying on sounds for hard-of-hearing users.

The interfaces should support a range of input devices, such as touchscreens, keyboards, mice, or voice commands for those people who cannot navigate well. Large control elements should be used along with providing alternative ways to interact with the application. In turn, the interface for cognitively impaired users needs to be very simple and intuitive: no complicated visual elements. The structure of the program should be straightforward, and clear requests will enable these users to easily find what they need faster.

Flexibility and personalization of the interface also play a critical role in inclusive design. Applications should allow users to customize settings according to their needs [2]. As mentioned earlier, these include font size adjustments or the choice of fonts that are easier to read for users with visual impairments or text perception difficulties, as well as options for color themes and contrast. Applications should also be adaptive, meaning they must display correctly and function efficiently on various devices with different screen sizes – from smartphones to tablets and wearable devices [3].

Another key principle of inclusive design is simplicity and clarity of the interface. This involves minimizing visual clutter and organizing elements in a logical sequence, enabling users to navigate and perform tasks quickly without unnecessary effort [4]. Clear instructions, helpful prompts, and clearly labeled buttons and controls are essential to reduce the likelihood of errors during use.

Cultural and linguistic adaptation is an integral part of inclusive design, especially for global markets. Applications should support multilingual interfaces, allowing users to select their preferred language. It is vital that translations are accurate, culturally appropriate, and free of stereotypes to ensure the application resonates with users from diverse backgrounds.

Inclusive design cannot be achieved without regular testing with real users, including those with disabilities. Feedback from users with diverse limitations helps identify potential accessibility issues and refine the interface. Testing on various devices and under different conditions is essential to ensure that the application remains accessible to all user groups.

Such aspects make principles of inclusive design in MA be enabled for developing universal, accessible products featuring qualitative interaction for all their users. By keeping these, a range of audience is increased; with its corresponding expanding of the app success issue within the market context.

Use of accessibility standards

The application of international accessibility standards, such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications), and others, plays a crucial role in the development of inclusive interfaces. These standards provide guidelines for designing interfaces that ensure equal interaction opportunities for all user categories, including people with disabilities. Their implementation not only helps comply with legal regulations in various countries but also enhances the usability and efficiency of interfaces (table 1).

Table 1

Key accessibility standards and their purpose [5]

Meeting the accessibility standards will not only provide room for developers to make their interfaces inclusive but also provide means of meeting international and regional regulations. It forms the basis for designing an interface that takes into consideration the different users’ needs and enhances interaction with digital products. Such standards allow gaining more trust on the part of users and widening the circle of potential users to include people with disabilities. This approach makes development more ethical, technologically advanced, and human-centered.

Tools and resources for developing inclusive interfaces

The development of inclusive interfaces requires the use of specialized tools and resources that enable developers to adhere to accessibility standards and test applications at various stages of development. These tools help identify accessibility issues, optimize user experience, and create products that cater to diverse needs (table 2).

Table 2

Tools and resources for inclusive design

The integration of specialized tools and resources into the development process ensures a systematic approach to creating inclusive interfaces. These tools not only help identify accessibility issues but also promote a culture of inclusivity by providing developers with practical insights and solutions. By leveraging these resources, development teams can streamline their workflows, reduce compliance risks, and enhance user experiences for diverse audiences. Ultimately, the adoption of such tools fosters innovation while aligning applications with global accessibility standards and user-centric design principles.

Best practices for developing inclusive interfaces

Inclusive interface design for MA needs to be informed through the adoption of proven practices, ensuring usability for the widest range of users. Fortunately, many of the most popular US-based applications lead by example through high standards of inclusive design and may be valuable sources of study and implementation within this industry.

One example of an adaptive interface is Google Maps. In 2023, it was the most downloaded mapping and navigation app in the United States, despite being a default pre-installed app on Android smartphones (fig. 2).

Figure 2. The most popular mapping applications in the US in 2023 by the number of downloads [6]

The wheelchair-accessible route feature by Google Maps enables people with problems in mobility to move around on sidewalks, elevators, and accessible stops of public transport. Secondly, Google Maps offers voice guidance to its visually impaired users. By this feature, users can orient themselves without focusing on the screen of the device, which seriously improves usability.

Among voice assistants, Amazon Alexa is the most available. It is an application for visually or motor impaired users to make devices on/off reminders and do much more-just with their voices. For instance, users may ask Alexa to light up the space or read out news headlines. It’s an extremely convenient piece of technology that struggles to interact with more conventional interfaces. Alexa also has a «Show and tell» mode that allows users to show an object and ask, «Alexa, what is this?» Alexa identifies the item and describes it.

Apple has implemented the operating system of iOS with the feature VoiceOver, by which all applications on the Apple ecosystem are readable to people who can’t see. This feature gives the audio description of the interface elements and allows users to manage the device by performing gestures. For example, using applications like WhatsApp, users can send messages and hear text spoken loud, thus making this application accessible to people unable to see the screen.

Duolingo is a language learning application that is designed to be inclusive. In the third quarter of 2024, Duolingo reported an MAU of approximately 113 million users, up 10% from the second quarter of the same year. This shows how accessible and usable the app is for a wide range of users, including those with diverse needs and preferences (fig. 3).

Figure 3. Number of active Duolingo users worldwide, millions [7]

The application supports more than 30 languages and is adapted for users at different levels of proficiency. A distinctive peculiarity of the interface is its gamification: it simplifies the learning process to such an extent that even people who have very minimal experience in using digital technologies can access it. For example, tasks are followed by visual cues and sounds, allowing the process to be understandable for users with limited cognitive abilities.

Microsoft Teams actively applies user testing with persons with disabilities. For example, the interface of the application was tested on users using screen readers and Braille keyboards, which allowed developers to make some necessary adjustments toward their needs. In regard to these studies, keyboard shortcuts and screen reader navigation enhancements were added, making Microsoft Teams accessible for all kinds of user categories. In 2024, daily active users in Microsoft Teams didn’t change for 2023 when about 320 million users were hosted [8]. These cases illustrate not just the implementation of an inclusive approach, but also at least some features of how applications are adapted to different user groups. Each of those shows how these practices, when integrated into the development flow, result in enhanced usability with a wider audience.

Conclusion

Developing user-centered, inclusive interfaces is already not only an ethical requirement but also one of the important strategies to provide more accessibility to digital products. The inclusion of principles of inclusive design, such as accessibility, flexibility, simplicity, and sensitivity to the peculiarities of culture, in the development allows the creation of applications that guarantee the usability of all categories of users, including those with disabilities. It serves to reduce various barriers and improve the quality of interaction with digital technologies. Examples of applications like Google Maps, Amazon Alexa, and Microsoft Teams prove that inclusive approaches develop not only the user experience but also widen the circle of consumers of digital products.

By adopting international accessibility standards and specialized tools, developers can create interfaces that meet today’s requirements and significantly improve user experiences. Testing on a regular basis with a wide range of disabilities helps transform applications to actually respond to the users’ needs and ensure their functionality and ease of use. This is the key step toward making technologies inclusive by catering to diversity and equal opportunities.