Not For Me: The Emotional Cost of Exclusionary Design

Event ID: PP1162280

Tue, Mar 17, 2026 | 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Venue: Room 410 (Hilton Austin Downtown)

View on Official SXSW

Summary

What does it feel like to be told — subtly or explicitly — that a product isn’t meant for you? From voice assistants that ignore accents, to websites that don’t account for disability, exclusionary design sends a powerful message: you don’t belong here/this product isn't for you. In this session, we’ll explore how design decisions shape belonging, dignity, and trust—and what happens when that’s broken. Drawing from real user stories, this talk will spark a conversation on what it takes to move beyond surface-level inclusion.

Contributors

Raw Event JSON

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