This book is a summary of how exclusion happens, with the primary goal of having the reader realize that there will never be a one size fits all solution to our challenges. In fact, when we try to design the perfect solution that includes everyone, we’re designing for no one. Not a single person on our planet fits into averages that data spits out and pushes us to design for.

“If you ask 100 people what inclusion means you’ll get 100 different answers, if you ask those same people what exclusion means then you’ll get the definition to be left out.”

Mismatch covers many different industries and is a great stepping stone when learning about how exclusion has and will continue to happen. There are many case studies of different designers creating solutions that dismantle these barriers affecting different communities, and how they relate to the cycle of exclusion. There are few action items, and it is up to the reader to apply how they can use these examples in their own work.

My key take aways from this book:

1. Simplicity and complexity need each other — we need to know all the problems to create the easy simple solutions that work.
2. Exclusion is the starting point for inclusion — once you know who’s being left out you can start to create the solution for how to include them.
3. An inclusive design is much more than its function it’s also the way it impacts someone’s mental health.
4. The models on how we describe inclusion dictate the solutions.
5. There are over 1 billion people living with a disability (either temporary or long term) and yet we assume it’s only a small margin of people. While I was reading this book, a post went viral of a sports car parked in the handicapped spot. Everyone was shaming the driver for using the spot because they had an expensive car, however it was later revealed that the driver was in fact handicapped. As a society we need to challenge the notion that handicapped means lesser.
6. Habit is a big reason why we have so much exclusion, more often than not we assume things are how they have to be, and we don’t try to challenge the status quo in order to include others.
7. Susan Goltsman’s definition of inclusive design — Inclusive design doesn’t mean you’re designing one thing for all people. You’re designing a diversity of ways to participate so that everyone has a sense of belonging.
8. Creating things with the idea that people only use them as individuals not only excludes those who can’t participate but diminishes our time together as people, when we spend time together, we’re happier and more empathetic.
9. Solutions that focus on fulfilling a need (emotional connection) are more successful than one that just provides a user information.
10. 3 principals of inclusive design — recognized exclusion, learn from diversity, solve for one, extend to many.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is creating solutions for an end user and think it would be a great tool and resource for anyone studying design. I wish there were more examples related directly to graphic design and will continue to explore other authors perspectives on the subject.