When we think about “great design,” we often imagine genius moments of inspiration. A lone mind in a quiet room. A spark. A vision.
But here’s the hard truth: When products are built in isolation, they fail in reality.
Designing from an ivory tower — separated from the people you serve — is not only outdated, it’s dangerous. In an interconnected, diverse, global economy, products that aren’t inclusive by design simply don’t survive.
The Problem with Ivory Tower Design
An “Ivory Tower” symbolizes exclusivity. It’s a place where ideas are polished but disconnected, where opinions are recycled within a closed circle.
In design, this creates fatal blind spots:
- 🔴 Exclusive Perspectives: If only a narrow set of experiences is considered, the product will only serve that narrow audience.
- 🔴 Assumption Bias: Designers believe their experience is “universal,” when in fact, it’s often very niche.
- 🔴 Resistance to Real Feedback: Criticism from users is seen as “misunderstanding,” not a sign to improve.
Products built in these towers might look beautiful in a pitch deck — but collapse under real-world pressures.
What Real-World Design Looks Like
Real-world design is messy, collaborative, and incredibly powerful. It’s rooted in understanding, not assumption.
- 🌍 Diverse Inputs: Researching and co-creating with users across cultures, abilities, geographies.
- 👥 Community Collaboration: Designing with, not just for, the people you want to serve.
- 🤝 Radical Empathy: Listening deeply and adapting continuously.
Real-world design is inclusive by nature. It doesn’t just anticipate edge cases — it embraces them as starting points.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
- ✨ Global Products Need Global Perspectives: No single designer can intuitively “know” what a billion users need.
- ✨ Accessibility Is Non-Negotiable: Design must work for people with all levels of ability, education, and access.
- ✨ Trust Is the New Currency: Inclusive, respectful design builds loyalty and community.
In a time where customers are more diverse, vocal, and powerful than ever, exclusivity is a slow death.
Final Thought
“You can’t design for the world if you’re not willing to step into it.”
Leaving the ivory tower isn’t optional anymore. It’s survival.
Inclusive design isn’t just ethical. It’s strategic. It’s scalable. It’s the only way forward.