DesignShift: From mindset to access

The "Mindset Myth" wrongly emphasizes individual responsibility over systemic barriers to success. Design often falls into this trap, focusing on individual behavior change rather than addressing systemic issues. Fitness trackers, for example, address individual motivation instead of the systemic lack of opportunities for physical activity. Our societal structures, like sedentary office jobs and online grocery delivery, contribute to this problem. Ignoring systemic access exacerbates inequality and reinforces discriminatory practices. Framing design questions from a systems perspective, rather than an individual one, is crucial. This involves recognizing exclusionary practices in design processes and naming the systems that create inequality. Shifting design focus from mindset to access requires changing behavioral models and challenging ingrained biases. This involves understanding and challenging the narratives that perpetuate the Mindset Myth. Ultimately, a more just society requires designers to prioritize addressing systemic inequalities rather than solely focusing on individual behaviors.