With the aim to work in the gaming industry, Glenn started his career diving into the world of programming at university. However, as the game developer program he started closed down, he continued to general programming. “But I quite quickly realised that programming wasn’t for me. What sparked my interest was UX and the impact that design has on the experience.” 

Glenn switched paths, and after earning an MA in Interaction Design, he got a job at the accessibility agency Funka in Stockholm. "It was a lucky strike, really. I never planned to work with universal design, but it fit me perfectly. That’s where I feel I, and design in general can make a positive difference.”

From game developer to universal design and accessibility  

His drive for improving people’s lives is clear, just like for many designers. However, that’s not the only reason he strongly advocates for accessibility.

“I can be quite cynical when necessary. Universal design is not about being nice to people who need it. It’s about thinking and designing smart to benefit everyone – both the user and the product owner. When you do this right, everyone wins. Everyone, regardless of disabilities, can use the product with ease, which opens up a bigger market for the product owner. Not to mention that when using a product or service is effortless, it saves time and resources on support and customer experience services. Those are resources saved that you can use focusing on developing the products of tomorrow instead.”

Universal design makes perfect business sense

An issue that Glenn points out several times during our conversation is the way that the topic of designing for accessibility is often viewed: “More often than not, I experience that companies and organisations see it as a necessary evil and something that you add on at the end of a project. Ok, we have an app; now we need to make it accessible. That doesn’t work.” 

He continues: “We need to change how we see and work with accessibility – if we approach it as the basis of any new product, a way of working, we will get great results. And it will be more effortless. Let me start the process, and the process will take care of itself – kind of. If we, on the other hand, see it as an add-on that you take into consideration afterwards, it becomes an after-construction, and it requires a lot more work.”

Advocating for accessibility as a way of working

Glenn shares that he’s often asked if he chose to work with accessibility and design because of his experience growing up with a brother born with Cerebral Palsy. “It might seem like an obvious explanation. However, it's not the reason, at least not consciously, why I chose my profession. But during my years of working with digital design, I have realised that my family's experience of using physical aids, growing up with my brother, is helpful for me in my digital design work. I bring those experiences from the physical world in, and it makes my understanding and my work better.

Making use of personal experience in his work 

BSc in programming. MA in Interaction Design.

 2017 (Been part of EGGS, Part of Sopra Steria since October 2023)

 Loves baking (he’s even been on TV bake-offs) takes care of his four cats. Avid gamer and fantasy nerd and the President of the Riichi Mahjong Organisation Norway (RON).

Meet Glenn – the developer gone universal design guru