In 2023, we launched the Inclusive Innovation Playbook—a strategic resource downloaded by hundreds of organisations seeking to embed inclusion into their innovation practices. Yet despite this appetite and the compelling business case for the benefits of inclusive innovation, we saw a pattern emerge: many of the strategies within the playbook were not being adopted as standard across the tech industry.
The research shows that inclusive innovation can increase reach & revenue, increase engagement & productively and create better more effective solutions. Yet, still it isn’t adopted as standard. We realised that collective action was needed to help both society and industry benefit from this potential. We need to educate, to inform and to support more people to be a part of the change.
While accessibility standards are gaining traction, deeper, more intersectional inclusion remains out of reach for many. Ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality, socio economic status and other dimensions of diversity are still too often sidelined in the innovation process.
Too many teams still default to designing for an ‘average’ user and then retrofitting for accessibility. But inclusive innovation requires a paradigm shift. It demands we consider the full spectrum of human experience from the outset, including how power dynamics, privilege, and exclusion shape our products, services, and systems.
It’s not just about making something accessible, it’s about questioning whether the solution itself is fit for purpose when viewed through the lens of diverse lived experiences. It’s about being intentional about ensuring your products and services have a positive social impact and do not widen existing inequalities.
Even organisations serving underserved communities can fall into the trap of designing for a narrow ‘target customer profile’, missing the broader variation within that group. Inclusion must go beyond intent, it must be systemic, embedded, and reflexive.
Inclusive innovation isn’t just about the methods we use—it’s about who feels innovation is for them in the first place. It’s about the diversity of voices shaping our digital products and services, and the inclusiveness of the entire innovation ecosystem—from funding and networks, to research, strategy, design, and launch. Inclusion cannot be a bolt-on; it must be baked into every stage, from ideation to delivery and beyond.
We believe the future of innovation is inclusive, but getting there will take collective effort. That’s why we started Amplify: The Inclusive Innovation Collective.
We saw a gap, a lack of shared space for critical thinking, collaboration, and action. Amplify is a volunteer-led, evolving movement to shift the status quo. Through Amplify, we’re building a dynamic, inclusive ecosystem where learning is shared, assumptions are challenged, and the practice of designing for the diversity of the real world becomes the norm, not the exception.
By joining amplify we invite our members to be champions of change, to take action and to share their progress to drive our collective impact.
Our Vision
Imagine a future where society thrives because digital products and services are built for all of us, not just the dominant few.
When businesses adopt inclusive innovation practices they grow their reach, impact and brand by catering for the full spectrum of humanity. To dismantle the systemic exclusion embedded in today’s innovation models intentional inclusion, must become the norm.
Our mission is to build a collective movement that drives inclusive innovation from the margins to the mainstream. Together, we are setting a new standard. We’re embedding inclusion into the mindsets, methods, mechanisms and measures that shape how digital solutions are created.
This requires more than good intentions. It means challenging dominant narratives about who gets to innovate, creating space for critical reflection and shared learning, and treating inclusion not as a checkbox, but as an essential, embedded practice that drives better outcomes for everyone.
Our Members
They Believe in the Power of Inclusion
They understand that inclusion is essential, not a buzzword, but a driver of better design, broader reach, and deeper impact. They are not looking to tick a box, avoid criticism, or use inclusion as PR.
They Know It’s a Journey, Not a Destination
They are ready to reflect, stay accountable, and be challenged. They recognise this work is ongoing and complex, but necessary. They are not seeking quick fixes or think they’ve already ‘done’ inclusion.
They Are Embedding Inclusion into Practice
They recognise that inclusion is an active practice. They want to change how products, services, and decisions are made. They are willing to use their influence, to invest, and to ask tough questions to shift how they work.
They Are Collaborative Learners
They’re here to share honestly, the wins and the struggles. They want to learn from others and contribute to a community of practice that evolves the field. They are not chasing a badge, a certificate, or public praise.
They Are Champions of Change
They’re ready to push beyond the status quo, to lead, influence, and take proactive action. They are inspiring others to act and are not waiting for permission, regulation, or external pressure.
