Talks and workshops

List includes independent speaker engagements as well as representing BIMA and Sightsavers.

Events and conferences

Accessibility and inclusive design: Back to basics

Without understanding the basics, how are we able to move forward and innovate? This 20-minute talk is split into two sections. The first part will state the facts about the many, not the few, and challenge the assumptions we may have about the topic of accessibility. This will be followed by a short story highlighting that disability can and will affect us all at any point in our lives.

Chalk Connect, Eastbourne (2024)

Accessibility, Inclusive design, and me

Sightsavers’ lead user experience designer Matt Roberts reveals how his personal circumstances and experience of disability have shaped his professional approach, explaining how accessibility and inclusive design can provide low-effort, high-impact gains for your organisation and its customers.

Econsultancy CX Live, London (2022)

Getting into the creative industry

Matt has designed for household brands such as Pepsi, Bendick’s and Fortnum & Mason, edited a Madonna music video, and also worked on various animation and illustration projects over the years. He will be sharing how his love of art at school took him on a journey to Norwich School of Art and Design, and then into the creative industry.

Limpsfield Grange School, Limpsfield (2019)

Being colourblind

Matt is colourblind. Matt is also a designer. He will be giving an insight into his experiences of being colourblind and what impact that has when bank notes, that haven’t considered this perspective, can become inaccessible.

De La Rue, Basingstoke (2018)

Running across the UK after being diagnosed with arthritis

In 2010, aged 24 Matt got diagnosed with Arthritis. As an avid runner and fitness enthusiast, the diagnosis was a curveball no-one expected. After 5 years of medication, and a lot of patience, he set himself an ambitious goal, run the breadth of the UK. He will be sharing the moment he received the diagnosis and the impact that had on him, through to the moment he finished a 500km run on the coast Wales.

WiredEB, Eastbourne (2019)

Panel discussions

Inclusive Design for brands

Accessibilty experts Vivian Wall, Ashley Peacock, Aleksandra Melnikova, and Matt Roberts share their thoughts and approaches to Neuro-Inclusive Design Practices, Importance of Accessibility, and universal design. Hosted by The Future is ND founder, Lucy Hobbs.

The Future is ND, Havas London (2024)

Designing inclusive experiences: audience-centric approaches to drive better outcomes

Molly Watt (usability and accessibility consultant, TEDx speaker, author and illustrator) and Matt Roberts (Lead UX Designer and Co-Chair of the BIMA Inclusive Design Council) will bring their unique perspectives to the conversation of assistive technologies, embedding inclusive thinking, and discussing both the challenges and the advantages of their personal circumstance. Hosted by Scott Ewings, Manifesto.

The Era of Engagement, Manifesto / The Royal Society of Arts (2024)

Accessible Design and Technology

Accessibility experts and advocates from different organisations share how they have fostered accessible design and technology in their organisations - the challenges, changes and impact; thoughts on evolution of accessible technologies and ways of working and their focus for the future.

Publicis Sapient, Online (2018)

The Future of Content

Is content still king? What is the age of the customer? What does the future hold for us as we plan, strategise and create content?

Gina Roughan, Tom Hall, David Lockie and Matt Roberts share their take on what’s to come.

BIMA Breakfast, Pragmatic Agency, Brighton (2019)

Workshops

Creativity and Access: The Importance of Inclusive Design

Challenge your assumptions and demystify inclusive and accessible content creation in this interactive workshop brought to you by Sightsavers. You’ll gain valuable tools and lessons to prioritise diversity and inclusion in your design and creative projects.

D&AD Design Festival, London (2024)

That inclusive design workshop

A 2-hour workshop focused on inclusive design. From understanding customer diversity, to packaging and brands considerations, this workshop is for design students looking to broaden their knowledge when it comes to good design.

Students will leave this session with facts, tips and resources to help assist them in understanding more about this important element of design.

UAL: London College of Communication, London (2024)

Webinars

The importance of accessibility

A 1-hour session on the importance of accessibility, how to embed best practice inclusive design into your processes, and ways to start being more accessible today.

KAPLAN international pathways (2024), UNICEF UK (2023), LLoyds Banking group (2023), International Rescue committee (2022), Active Sussex (2021)

In pictures

A selection of photos from the places I’ve spoken at, and the people I’ve spoken to.

Chalk Connect, The Foundry Eastbourne, 2024

The Era of Engagement (Manifesto), Royal Society Arts, 2024

The importance of accessibility, D&AD, 2024

That Inclusive Design Workshop, London College Communication 2024

Econsultany Live, Queen Elizabeth Hall, 2022

Accessibility workshop (Sightsavers), Haywards Heath, 2019