Harvard Business Review LogoProduct development by Vijay Govindarajan, Kinya Seto, Tojin T. Eapen and Christine MoormanFebruary 9, 2026Jayme Burrows/StocksyPostBuy CopiesSummary. Leer en españolLer em portuguêsPostBuy CopiesIn 2003, when plumbing fixtures industry veteran Rob Buete first encountered the “walk-in tub” made by a startup called Safety Tub, he burst out laughing. A bathtub with a door? It seemed like a joke, or at best a clunky contraption for frail seniors who couldn’t step over a regular tub.PostBuy CopiesRead more on Product development or related topics Disabilities, Innovation and Competitive strategy
How Designing with Disability in Mind Sparks Innovation
Innovations created for users with accessibility needs can be amplified to unlock universal value. This process, “design amplification,” begins with products designed for people with physical disabilities such as vision, hearing, motor, or cognitive challenges and transforms those products into mainstream offerings. Design amplification offers the potential to unlock meaningful commercial and social value. Yet most companies continue to treat accessibility as a niche market rather than an innovation catalyst.
89 words~1 min read
