By Kennedy Mbele, Technology Columnist

Introduction

The digital world is often designed for the tech-savvy youth, but Charles Elem, a renowned UI/UX strategist based in London, argues that the key to improving user experiences for all lies in designing first and foremost for older adults. With an ageing population, creating user-friendly interfaces that cater for those aged 70 and above not only addresses accessibility but also improves the experience for everyone, regardless of age.
In this interview, Charles shares his insights on why silver-first design is the future of truly inclusive user experiences and how his approach to simplifying and clarifying digital interactions benefits users of all ages.

Charles, thank you for joining us. Let’s start with the basics. What does the term “silver-first design” mean?

Charles Elem: Silver-first design is all about prioritizing the needs of older users in the design process. Essentially, it’s about considering a persona of someone who may have limited vision, dexterity, or cognitive ability due to age. When you design for them, you’re designing for everyone.

Think of it as creating the most inclusive, accessible experience first, and then fine-tuning it for younger, more agile users. It’s a way to future-proof your digital products while making them better for the present.

But isn’t designing for older adults a bit of a constraint? Doesn’t it limit creativity or flexibility?

Charles Elem: It’s actually the opposite! Designing for older adults forces you to remove unnecessary complexity. You have to simplify, clarify, and streamline interactions, which ends up making the experience better for all users.

When you eliminate friction points—whether it’s through clearer navigation, larger buttons, or simpler language—it’s not just seniors who benefit. Everyone, regardless of age or ability, finds it easier to engage with your product.

Can you share an example where silver-first design helped younger users?

Charles Elem: Absolutely. A great example is when I worked on the UI/UX design for SokosQ.com, an AI-powered social commerce platform that helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sell, transact, and grow their business. For this project, we focused on making the platform more accessible for older users, incorporating features like larger fonts, clearer navigation, and more prominent call-to-action buttons.

However, these changes didn’t just benefit the older users. The simplified design also improved the experience for younger users. The clearer, more intuitive interface, combined with a more straightforward checkout process, led to a 20% increase in conversions and a noticeable reduction in cart abandonment. Younger users, especially those on mobile devices, appreciated the enhanced readability and seamless navigation. It’s a perfect example of how silver-first design can elevate the user experience for everyone, not just the target demographic.

It sounds like silver-first design can improve usability across the board. What are some other design elements that are crucial when designing for older users?

Charles Elem: Great question. Some of the most important elements are readability, touch targets, and simplicity in navigation. For readability, larger fonts and high contrast are crucial—this doesn’t mean just enlarging text but ensuring that the contrast ratio between the background and the text is strong enough for users with vision impairments.

Touch targets, buttons and links need to be large enough for those with tremors or limited dexterity. Finally, when it comes to navigation, reducing the number of steps to complete a task, avoiding clutter, and minimizing distractions are all essential to helping older users feel confident.

In your experience, what are the most common mistakes designers make when trying to create accessible experiences?

Charles Elem: One of the biggest mistakes is assuming accessibility only relates to vision or hearing impairments. Accessibility goes far beyond that—it includes cognitive and motor impairments as well. For instance, many designs still rely on small fonts, tiny clickable areas, and complex instructions, which frustrate older users.

Another issue is neglecting to provide enough feedback. For example, if someone makes a mistake while filling out a form, the person will immediately get a clear, friendly error message and be told how to correct it. Too often, errors are vague or, worse, completely ignored.

In your work, have you noticed any resistance to silver-first design principles? How do you address that?

Charles Elem: Yes, there’s often a misconception that older adults are technophobic or unwilling to embrace new technology. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Many seniors are actually tech-savvy and eager to use digital products, especially if they’re made accessible to them.

The resistance I encounter is usually from teams who are focused on speed and budget. They often want to cut corners and don’t see the immediate value in inclusive design. But what I’ve found is that these small upfront investments in accessibility pay off in the long run, both in terms of customer satisfaction and market reach.

What role does content play in silver-first design?

Charles Elem: Content is vital. Plain language is essential when designing for older adults. This includes not just avoiding jargon but using simple, straightforward terms. For example, instead of saying “authenticate your identity,” say “verify it’s you.”

Content needs to be actionable and easy to digest. Short sentences, clear instructions, and visual cues like icons and progress indicators help users stay oriented throughout their journey.

How do you convince companies that investing in silver-first design is worth it?

Charles Elem: I always highlight the business case. Older adults represent a significant portion of the consumer market, particularly when it comes to discretionary spending. According to various studies, they control more than 50% of wealth in many countries.

If you make your platform easier for them to use, you not only expand your potential user base but you also reduce bounce rates, lower abandonment, and boost conversions across all age groups. It’s an investment in your product’s future longevity.

In your opinion, is there a perfect “silver-first” product?

Charles Elem: I think there are many good examples, but no product is perfect. However, some notable ones include the iPhone. Apple has always been very focused on accessibility, and they provide a lot of features that help older users, like larger text options, voice commands, and gesture controls. It’s a good benchmark, but there’s always room for improvement. I think we’ll see more and more products get it right as the demand for inclusive design continues to grow.

What do you see for the future of silver-first design?

Charles Elem: I believe silver-first design will continue to evolve as technology becomes more immersive. We’ll see more focus on voice interfaces, AI-driven personalization, and even haptic feedback for users with limited motor control. As the older demographic continues to grow and more people embrace digital experiences, I think we’ll see it become the norm rather than the exception.

Silver-first will be a core principle of every design, and it will ultimately lead to products that are intuitive and accessible for everyone.

Quick Tips for Silver-First Design
Use Larger Fonts & High Contrast: Make sure text is readable for those with vision impairments, and ensure there’s enough contrast between text and background.

Ensure Touch Targets Are Large: Buttons and clickable areas should be big enough to tap without effort—minimum 44×44 pixels.

Simplify Navigation: Streamline the number of steps required to complete a task, reducing clutter and eliminating distractions.

Provide Clear Feedback: If a user makes a mistake, give them immediate, understandable instructions on how to correct it.

Use Plain Language: Avoid jargon, and use short, simple sentences that everyone can understand.

Closing Thoughts

Charles Elem is a strong advocate for designing with empathy and foresight, especially as the digital world continues to evolve. By embracing silver-first UX design principles, companies not only meet the needs of an ageing population but also create more intuitive, accessible, and engaging experiences for all users. As the world ages and digital technology becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, Charles’ approach to inclusive design may well be the future blueprint for user experience.