Our story

Inclusive Design Collective was founded by Manisha Amin.  Manisha transformed Media Access Australia to Centre for Inclusive Design, a not- for-profit that changed the conversation on inclusive design in Australia. When it was time to move she wanted to try something different.

Inclusive Design Collective works across the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We bring the best thinkers to business challenges by fostering innovation and growth in markets and advocating for inclusivity. We are networked with a team of collaborators with lived experience of both inclusion and exclusion in various communities and deep expertise in inclusive design. This means you get a bespoke team to suit your needs and access to a wealth of knowledge from the collective and our international partners.

A sample of our team.

Manisha
Dr Manisha Amin

Founder
MC, Keynotes, Community and Leadership

Simon Lillis
Simon Lillis

Founding Associate
Design, Technology and Innovation

Rebecca Grace
Rebecca Grace

Founding Associate
Process design and benchmarking

Jody Barney
Jody Barney

Founding Partner
Indigenous Advisor, Justice lead

We aren’t your usual designers.

Inclusive Design is more than accessibility or user experience. For us it’s a mindset, a process, and a commitment to creating systems, strategies, and solutions that consider the diverse needs of all people, especially those who are often marginalised or overlooked. Our work is rooted in the principles and methodology of the Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC). Inclusive design embraces diversity as a core driver of innovation. Our way of working is different to others and is grounded in the following principles.

1. Diversity as a source of strength.

Inclusive design recognises that true innovation comes from diverse perspectives. By involving people with a wide range of abilities, backgrounds, and experiences, we uncover solutions that work for everyone, not just the average user.

2.Creating flexible and adaptable solutions.

Systems and technologies should be flexible enough to adapt to the needs of different users. This means designing with adaptability in mind, ensuring that as contexts change, the systems remain relevant and effective.

3.Recognising the context.

Every user operates within a unique context. Inclusive design is deeply connected to systems thinking, acknowledging that solutions must be responsive to the environments and systems in which they are deployed. Whether it’s socio-economic factors, physical environments, or cultural contexts, inclusive design takes all these into account.

4.Co-Design and inclusive research.

Rather than designing for people, we design with them. This involves collaborative research methodologies that engage communities from the outset. By involving end-users as active participants in the research and design process, we ensure that the solutions we develop truly meet their needs and aspirations.