Diversity Elements to Consider about Representation in Visuals
This is not comprehensive but aims to give some general areas of consideration and ideas of how to represent different aspects of identity.
- Race and ethnicity — Can be depicted through the use of a wide array of:
- Skin tones
- Hair types
- Hairstyles
- Body Type — Can be depicted through diverse:
- Body sizes
- Body shapes
- Heights
- Disability — Can be depicted through:
- Wheelchairs
- Crutches
- Braces
- Screenreaders
- Hearing Aids
- Cochlear Implants
- Glasses
- Insulin Pumps
- People signing to communicate
- Prosthetic limbs
- Scars
- Vitiligo
- Variation in the number of limbs or appendages a person has
- A Guide Dog
- Canes (multiple types such as those used as physical mobility support aid and then those used for navigation)
- Walkers
- Other visible disabilities that will impact body features such as height or facial features
- Gender identity — Represents a wide array of gender identity expressions. Depictions may depict those who appear to be:
- Cisgender and transgender women
- Genderfluid, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming
- (an example of how to do this could have someone who appears to be more masc dressing in a more traditionally feminine clothing style)
- Cisgender and transgender men
- Linguistic identity — If there is written language being depicted in images, can have other languages being represented
- Religion & Culture — Can be depicted through the use of elements that have cultural or religious significance such as:
- Hijabs
- Kippahs
- Turbans
- Kufis
- Keffiyeh
- Native beadwork jewelry
- Tattoos (some tattoo styles and placements have specific cultural significance – eg, some Alaskan Native women’s facial tattoos around the mouth, Native Hawaii’n tattoos)
- Age
- Moving beyond a default age for certain roles (such as a student).