Accessibility is not just a buzzword – it is a necessity. UX expert Thomas Immich has experienced this first-hand: In a self-experiment, he wore an age simulation suit to experience the challenges of digital barriers. This impressive experience kicked off the podcast “2025: Odyssey Accessibility”, which encourages people to think and rethink.
The GermanUPA interview with Thomas Immich focused on the motivations behind his self-experiment, the insights he gained from it and how we can break down digital barriers together. A conversation that will inspire not only UX professionals, but everyone who designs digital products.
Read the full interview and let Thomas Immich’s experiences and insights motivate you to actively integrate accessibility into your work.
The Interview
GermanUPA: Hello Thomas, nice to have you with us today. Before we get straight into the content of your new podcast, I would of course be interested to know: What was the catalyst for this particular format? And perhaps you would also like to briefly explain to our listeners what the project is about and what the idea behind it was?
Thomas Immich: Yes, I would love to. The idea ultimately came about as a result of the Accessibility Improvement Act, which comes into force this year. We thought to ourselves: it’s actually a shame that we need a law to talk about digital accessibility at all. It was clear to us that we needed a big impact – a “big bang” – that not only talked about the topic, but also made it tangible. Our aim was to trigger empathy. This gave rise to the question: how can we experience first-hand what restrictions feel like? Ultimately, that’s what UX design is all about: adopting the perspective of other people and understanding their world of experience. That’s how the idea for our project came about.
GermanUPA: A really impressive start – especially with the age simulation suit. What was the most impressive or surprising moment for you personally during this experiment?
Thomas Immich: We deliberately started episode one with the age simulation suit because I wanted to experience what ageing feels like on my own body. Coincidentally, that day was also German Senior Citizens’ Day, which I first heard about on the radio – which of course fitted in perfectly. I found it incredibly difficult to comprehend how severe the restrictions really are. Incidentally, the suit was here in the Centigrade building – we only had to pick it up one floor down. I asked Dr. Meyer-Hentschel if we could borrow it and he said yes straight away.
In the first episode, I actually wore the suit for the first time without having tried it out beforehand. The most surprising thing for me was how extremely strenuous it all became. My wife had warned me: “Don’t be surprised how exhausting it will be!” But I thought to myself: “Well, a little weight on my shoulders will be fine.” And then – it just didn’t work. Even walking was hardly possible without enormous effort.
GermanUPA: I can well imagine that. In the first episode, you dealt intensively with the Komoot app. What were the biggest UX challenges for you?
Thomas Immich: That’s an interesting pattern that has emerged. Our tasks are actually quite simple: “Record the route you are taking” – a simple interaction that should be feasible even for older people. Nevertheless, the biggest hurdle was finishing the route. I was completely exhausted and just wanted to complete the task. But instead of a clear “Done” button, there were only options like “Recommend to friends” or “Share route”. This was extremely frustrating, especially when using the app with a screen reader. At that moment, I just wanted to sit down and take off my suit.
GermanUPA: Honestly, was there a moment when you wanted to stop the experiment?
Thomas Immich: Yes, actually. Two moments, in fact. When watching the raw footage, I noticed that I could hardly remember certain scenes – almost as if my body had repressed them. The first critical moment was when I had a pulse of about 150. I could feel my heart racing and I could hardly get any fresh air under the helmet. Of course, this also simulates the limited lung capacity in old age. I felt light-headed and pulled my helmet up – I wouldn’t have been able to stay on my feet any other way.
Although the visor was then open, I still had difficulty getting enough air because my chest was so restricted by the weights. I couldn’t breathe deeply enough. At that moment, I really thought: “What do I do now?” I couldn’t just take the suit off because I had the weight of the rucksack on my back. It took me two or three minutes to regain my composure. Later, during another peak, I consciously took breaks and made sure to keep my heart rate below 120.
GermanUPA: That really sounds like an intense experience – both physically and emotionally. Great respect for that!
Thomas Immich: Thank you. I really went into it completely naively. If I’d known how intense it would be, I might have thought twice about it.
GermanUPA: What mindsets or perspectives would you give UX designers with regard to digital accessibility?
Thomas Immich: Clearly, a change of perspective is crucial. Even if you know that accessibility is an issue – actually experiencing it yourself is something completely different. There is nothing that can replace personal experience. And that’s the problem: people with disabilities experience these challenges on a daily basis, while we designers find it very difficult to really empathize with what it means.
That’s why we’ve adapted our podcast format: In episode two and all subsequent episodes, we invite affected people. No more self-experiments. We want to hear the real world of experience – if the people are willing to talk about it. Because real empathy comes from listening and understanding, not from short simulations.
GermanUPA: An important point. Is there a specific UX rule that you would derive from this experience?
Thomas Immich: Yes, definitely: reduce distractions! What I have learned: Every additional piece of information, every unnecessary decision is a burden. Many apps still collect too much data or display countless options instead of focusing on the user’s core need. For people without restrictions, this may still be manageable. But if you find yourself in a situation where every interaction is exhausting, it becomes a real ordeal.
Another thought: perhaps traditional paradigms such as “page structure is read out” are no longer suitable. Why not use an AI-supported, naturally speaking assistant that helps blind users in a simple way? It’s about really rethinking – and not just making existing systems a little more accessible.
GermanUPA: Thank you very much for that! You’ve already hinted at a few prospects: what can we expect in the next episodes?
Thomas Immich: We have collected a lot of exciting apps. At “Mensch und Computer”, I asked the community which apps they wanted to test. Booking.com was one of them, as was the Ikea app and some financial apps. We focus on everyday situations.
We have already filmed with Booking.com. Although the site is considered to be very accessible, it was still extremely difficult to use with a screen reader – a good example of how even “good” solutions are not perfect.
In a later episode, we want to test the Nina-Warn-App or the Nora-Notrufapp, especially in the context of deaf users. Especially in emergency situations, communication has to work smoothly – it’s not just about UX, but ultimately about human lives.
GermanUPA: That sounds super exciting! And I know our UX community is often excited to be part of such projects. How can people take part in your podcast?
Thomas Immich: With pleasure! You can simply make suggestions via Spotify or YouTube in the comments or contact me directly via LinkedIn. But: It’s important to us to protect the anonymity and data privacy of our participants. We only film the hands and distort the voices – nobody has to show their face. Security and protection are our top priority.
GermanUPA: It’s really good that you’re handling the topic so sensitively. In conclusion: Please finish the sentence “Accessibility in the digital world is …”
Thomas Immich: … just as important as in the physical world. Just because you can’t see or physically feel digital barriers doesn’t make them any less relevant.
GermanUPA: Thank you very much, Thomas, for your fascinating insights! I’m already looking forward to the next episodes – and maybe we’ll see you here again soon.
Thomas Immich: I would be delighted – and of course hope for many more exciting submissions! Thank you very much.
