Diversity: the art of thinking independently together. -Malcolm Forbes

Defining diversity

Diversity has become a buzzword amongst many groups of people including: activists, marketing professionals, business men and women, politicians, and ethnic and religious organizations. From a personal standpoint, I am a huge fan of diversity when it involves people from different ethnic backgrounds, religious backgrounds, etc. coming together to arrive at a place that improves cultures, economies, and the general well-being of humanity. Diversity assists in breaking down “groupthink”: a condition in which a group becomes stale or unimaginative as a result of people all thinking the same way. I am however not a fan of how some groups have claimed the word “diversity” in order to promote an activist viewpoint, to try to make others think exactly as they do to the detriment of society’s moral health and the degradation of societies well being. It is sad that I have to comment on and define what I mean by diversity, but it seems these days especially when it comes to education, there is an outside influence that wants to change the definition of several buzzwords, and promote lifestyle choices which are immoral and unnatural as being a wholesome and healthy (diverse) viewpoint, and to make everyone think like they do. The very essence of that type of diversity is the opposite of diversity in and of itself. Using the word diversity as a buzzword to try to make everyone think like you do is at its core counter productive to true diversity. Diversity defined correctly is for the improvement of ideas, productivity, and quality of life from the base of several different ideas, backgrounds, and cultures with a common goal for their improvement and well being and that is what I will be discussing as it is related to business and technology, and in principle to life in general. That being said, (which I couldn’t leave unsaid), I want to discuss in particular how diversity relates to web design and development.

Diversity in Web Design and Development

We need diversity of thought in the world to face the new challenges. -Tim Berners Lee

Target Audience

The internet is global. People from every culture, nation, tribe, and tongue are viewing your site from the internet. They are also viewing them on fast, slow, and mediocre connection speeds. They are viewing them on old and new operating systems. They are viewing them on multiple devices from desktops to handhelds. How are you going to reach as many people as possible? You need to understand that thinking globally in this profession implies diversity, and if you are going to be in this profession successfully, it is a necessity to be thinking about the diversity of your target audience.

Technology Driven

Web design is driven by technology. It is driven by a diverse group of innovative thinkers. Multiple developers from multiple countries have worked to make the internet accessible to the whole world. They have developed ways to create a multimedia platform on every type of device imaginable, and available to each unique people groups on a global scale. Technology drives web design, but diversity drives technology. On a global scale, people have different needs, wants, and abilities. Keeping in step would be impossible without a diverse group willing to share their ideas, and develop together to make it possible to access a website from anywhere in the world, on any device. Tim Berners Lee was right. With new challenges, there comes a need for diverse thinking.

Expanding Markets

Anyone who does business over the internet knows that the markets are continually expanding. Those who want to grow their business must keep in mind the opportunity they have to expand their own personal market. The only way to do this is to consider the diversity of their markets and design to suit the needs of as many markets as there are opportunities to reach them. Doing the research and developing with the diversity of culture in mind provides the ability of businesses to exponentially expand their marketability. In the days before the internet, this was the dream of each and every business, to go global. Today this is possible not just for large corporations, but for small hometown businesses through the technology of the internet. This however is impossible without considering the diversity in design and development. What appeals to men and women in China is different than those from South Africa, and those from the Middle East. What is capable is also different. The wise businessman or businesswoman considers this and hires a web designer who understands and implements diversity in design and accessibility.

In Conclusion

If the idea of getting ideas from as many different people groups, from as many different cultural perspectives, on as many different global markets as possible doesn’t excite you, then your web design profession will be minimal at best. Web design is about change, and innovation, and is driven by technology, and diversity. If you don’t like change, don’t become a web designer or you will be miserable!

People may be said to resemble not the bricks of which a house is built, but the pieces of a picture puzzle, each differing in shape, but matching the rest, and thus bringing out the picture. -Felix Adler