Form Over Function: Why Your Beautiful Branding Doesn't Work with Melin Edomwonyi

Today on the podcast, I am chatting about such an important topic: inclusivity and accessibility within branding. I'm joined by my friend and fellow designer Melin Edomwonyi to dig into what this actually looks like in practice which is a lot deeper than I realised.

We cover so many different aspects of inclusivity and accessibility, from the colours we choose to how we format our emails. I feel like some of these topics could be a whole episode by themselves!

The biggest reminder from this conversation is that we are never going to get this stuff perfect 100% of the time. It'a about curiosity and a willingness to learn and make improvements bit by bit and Melin shares some SUPER practical tips you can implement straight away to make your brand more accessible.

Key Takeaways:

• Inclusivity is more than just imagery: While showing a diverse range of people in your photography is important, inclusive branding also covers typography, colour contrast, accessibility, and your tone of voice.
• The problem with the "Beige Aesthetic": We discuss the trend of "aesthetic" design (often beige, low contrast, tiny text) and how, while it might look "luxury", it often excludes people with visual impairments and makes your content hard to consume.
• Don't make your audience work for it: If your text is hard to read (e.g. centre-aligned body copy), people will simply switch off. Accessibility isn't just a legal or moral requirement; it's smart business. If people can't read your offer, they can't buy it.
• Context matters for content: We chat about the accessibility of long-form captions on platforms like Instagram versus platforms designed for reading like Substack or LinkedIn. Providing a summary (TL;DR) is a great way to be inclusive of different neurotypes and time constraints.
• Designing for the "drunk user": Melin shares a fascinating UX perspective—if your website is usable by someone who is distracted, tired, or even "under the influence", it is likely accessible to everyone.

Episode Highlights:

• 03:30 – What does inclusive branding actually mean? (Hint: It's not just about photos).
• 10:00 – The frustration with the "Instagram Aesthetic" and why form should not win over function.
• 14:00 – A plea to stop centre-aligning your newsletter body copy!
• 17:00 – Accessibility in copywriting: Why wall-of-text captions can be a barrier for neurodivergent audiences.
• 25:00 – Testing your website for different scenarios (including the "drunk test").
• 27:00 – Tools and resources to help you check your colour contrast.

About The Guest:

Melin Edomwonyi is a designer and the Co-founder and UX Director of Seedable Studio, a digital agency that validates, designs, and builds digital products. With over 20 years of experience, she is passionate about building inclusive and sustainable products and helping founders bring brilliant ideas to life.

You can find Melin on Instagram @melin_edo or visit Seedable Studio

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