Marking its third year, the 2025 Accessibility Festival Week (AFW) was held at Samsung Electronics UK (SEUK) from May 13 to 15. The event showcased accessible products and services designed to deliver inclusive experiences for all, including people with disabilities, older adults and individuals with temporary physical limitations.

In celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), Samsung Electronics CDO, Samsung Design Europe (SDE), Europe Office (EO), Samsung Electronics UK (SEUK) and Samsung R&D Institute UK (SRUK) joined forces to host a collaborative event. The initiative was designed to raise awareness and highlight the importance of accessibility, this event has been created for employees.

Day 1: Learning From Europe’s Accessibility Practices

AFW opened on May 13 with an Inspiration Tour, bringing together accessibility leaders from SEC and members of the AFW task force to explore exemplary accessibility practices across Europe and to inspire future initiatives. At the Samsung KX store in King’s Cross, London, a recognized model of inclusive retail, participants explored accessibility features firsthand and observed how inclusive design influenced customer experience.

▲ Inspiration Tour at Samsung KX in King’s Cross, London

That afternoon, the group visited Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centre in King’s Cross to explore practical solutions designed to support people with diverse disabilities.

▲ Visiting Google’s Accessibility Discovery Center, London

“The Inspiration Tour broadened my perspective on accessibility,” said Youngkyung Jung of the UX Strategy Group at the CDO. “Many breakthroughs in accessibility stem from collaboration between companies, and today’s program demonstrated the power of inclusive partnerships.”

Day 2: Driving Innovation Through a Cross-Functional Accessibility Symposium

On the morning of May 14, Samsung hosted an accessibility symposium at its SEUK office, bringing together employees from CDO, SDE, EO, SEUK and SRUK. Teams from People, Workplace Solutions, Employee Resource Groups and key business units, such as planning, design, development, and marketing, shared insights on integrating accessibility into their work. The discussions explored current trends in accessibility, UX strategy and evaluation, practical R&D applications, and more. Participants shared their lived experiences and ideas, fostering deeper connections across regions and functions.

▲ Employees Networking and Engaging in Discussions at the Symposium

“Accessibility features originally created for users with disabilities often evolve into tools that benefit everyone,” said Ray Jessel of EO Marketing. “Learning from the diverse experiences of other departments was especially valuable to my work.”

Day 3: Building a Shared Accessibility Vision for Inclusive Innovation

To mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) on May 15, Samsung hosted a special session at the SEUK office to share its accessibility strategy and vision with employees across Europe.

The event opened with remarks from Simon Sung, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics Europe He introduced various accessibility initiatives surrounding Samsung Electronics and encouraged employees by highlighting the company's efforts to enhance accessibility in Europe through increased collaboration with partners.

▲ Opening Speech from Simon Sung, President of Samsung Electronics Europe

EVP Jinsoo Kim, Head of CDO Design Strategy Team and Accessibility Committee at SEC, attended the session to connect with employees, introduced Samsung's accessibility vision and principles, as well as the significance of AFW, emphasizing the importance of working together to create a better experience for all.

▲ Speech from EVP Jinsoo Kim, Head of CDO Design Strategy Team and Accessibility Committee at SEC

Leaders from SEC’s various business divisions presented product-specific accessibility strategies and key features for the year. The keynote was livestreamed to teams across Europe.

That afternoon, employees participated in a hands-on workshop led by experts from Studio Exception* a design and innovation consultancy specializing in inclusive design. The session gave participants a chance to apply inclusive design thinking to their everyday work. “AFW has been an inspiring and meaningful experience for us in Europe. Accessibility is no longer optional, it’s a strategic imperative that defines future competitiveness,” said Alice Jackson from the SEUK People Team. “It was especially impactful to have people from SEC visit Europe and deliver such a clear, unified message. This event has created a powerful sense of shared purpose, understanding, and empathy, values we are passionate about in our efforts to support our colleagues and future talent at Samsung.”

▲ Employees Exploring the AFW Exhibition Displayed in the Atrium

As the three-day AFW concluded, employees expressed growing optimism and momentum. Samsung envisions the event as a catalyst for lasting, inclusive innovation, reaching beyond convenience to create better experiences for everyone.

*Studio Exception is an inclusive design and research agency that aims to create better products and services by focusing on the experiences of diverse individuals, especially those who are often excluded from mainstream design.