07 Digital design tool accessibility drives innovation disparities across user populations

Abstract

Digital design tools have transformed creative innovation, yet significant accessibility disparities persist across user populations. Here we examine how user background characteristics influence design tool utilization and innovation outcomes through a comprehensive study of 1,095 design practitioners and 111 educators across  69 institutions in China. We find that users with advanced technical  backgrounds demonstrate 65% higher tool usage frequencies and achieve innovation quality scores25 points higher  than  users  with  limited  technical  experience.  Institutional environments show modest effects  on  outcomes,  failing  to  effectively  bridge accessibility gaps. Our analysis reveals that technical background  explains  42%  of variance in innovation quality, with each additional weekly session associated with 8.64-point quality improvements. These findings establish a theoretical framework for design tool accessibility  and  provide  evidence-based  strategies  for  promoting innovation democratization in the digital era.