The curb cut effect

1 min read · Sept 22, 2023
New Power Labs

Tl;dr: The curb cut effect refers to the ways that adaptive designs end up rippling out to be useful beyond the communities they were designed to accommodate. We see this potential within the financial system.

Curb cuts were designed to accommodate wheelchair users, but have proved to be a boon for all; parents pushing strollers, travellers pulling luggage, and workers pushing loaded carts all benefit from easier sidewalk access thanks to curb cuts. In design, we refer to the curb-cut effect as the ripple effect of inclusivity, where features intended to assist a specific group can enhance the experience of a wider group. 

The Xbox Adaptive Controller was initially designed to be inclusive to gamers with disabilities, but the larger buttons and customizable inputs proved broadly appealing, leading to an increase in overall sales and a knock-on effect as third-party innovators designed peripheral accessories to enhance the experience of gamers with varied needs. 

We see this effect within the financial system. Microfinancing was developed in the Global South, initially modelled on community-based lending systems in more rural communities that are typically excluded from traditional banking systems. As the microfinance industry has matured, it now encompasses a wider range of financial services beyond microloans, including savings accounts, insurance products, and entrepreneurship training, and has been adopted in urban areas and in the Global North where there's a demand for more flexible and community-oriented options.

Designing inclusive products and services requires us to reframe the way we think about equitable access to capital. Innovation encourages us to unlock the talent, ideas, experience, and energy that might otherwise be excluded and could lead us to uncover solutions to environmental and socioeconomic issues.

Contributed by: Hanh Le

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