Ana Tobin: Making Design Accessible and Audience-Tailored
Assistant Professor of Graphic Design for George Mason University
by Elizabeth Lavis
|15 Apr 2024
Ana Tobin, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design for George Mason University and unofficial Experimental Design with Accessible Design Focus for Ana Tobin Design, encourages fledgling designers to embrace accessibility in the design process fully. “Think about who your audience is and consider the best way to present the information you are designing for them. Are they visually or hearing impaired? Do they have a physical or mental disability? Are they neurodivergent? How can you design in such a way that will reach each of these different audiences?”
Tobin is deeply driven by a need to find creative ways to help others communicate, learn, and process information. “As a neurodivergent person, I know that learning can be difficult and that everyone learns in their own way,” she says. “My goal as a designer is to make design as accessible to all as possible. To try to do this by taking a multimodal approach to design. Some people are kinesthetic learners, so they need a more interactive and active approach to learning and design. Some are more visual, and others are tactile, so I strive to present information in a variety of ways so that everyone has the opportunity to learn in whatever way suits them best.”
In addition to accessibility, the concept is the most essential aspect of Tobin's design. “Once you have a really solid concept, the design and technical skills will come,” she says. “I don’t like to make work that just looks pretty but doesn’t mean anything. Each aspect of the design has to reflect the concept wholeheartedly.”
"Neuro Divergent", Ana Tobin
Tobin split her childhood between her native Maryland and Maine, and each community had a thriving artistic scene. “I think that made me realize that being an artist was a feasible career,” Tobin says. “I also grew up in a family of artists.”
Tobin is a neurodivergent person and needed to find creative ways to learn throughout her life. “Visual learning was one of the ways that worked well for me,” she says. “I think that seeing and discovering the world visually had a huge impact on my path to becoming a designer. I realized that I could help others learn and communicate.”
Her design philosophy also has deep familial roots. “Though I didn’t realize it until recently, my mom shaped my design philosophy,” Tobin says. “She (my mom) was the one who taught me that being neurodivergent isn’t a disability. It’s an ability. I can think differently and can come up with my own unique solutions. This has shaped my research and vision as a designer. I strive to find design solutions accessible to anyone with differing abilities.”
Tobin delivers her vision to clients through transparent communication and honesty. “I think being upfront and honest with clients is a great way to establish trust,” she says. She also loves creative collaboration with other designers, believing that the best ideas come when they can bounce off others. This honest, collaborative, and innovative approach allows Tobin to produce unique and valuable work.
Moving forward, Tobin wants to promote accessible design practices, delve more into experiential design, and continue collaborating with other designers. On a personal note, she’ll strive to better understand and address the needs of those around her. “I will listen to others, hear their needs, and try to learn the best way to respond,” she says. Life is constant growth, so I will continue to be open to that in any way that I can.”
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