Keep Left and Guide Dogs host Australia’s first accessible beauty summit with Molly Burke
The Australian beauty industry has been challenged to lift its game on accessibility following the nation’s first Boundless Beauty Summit, hosted in Sydney by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT in conjunction with creative communications agency Keep Left.
Headlined by beauty influencer and disability advocate Molly Burke, the event united brand leaders, content creators, accessibility experts and people with lived experience to tackle one big question: why is beauty still designed for sighted consumers only?
Burke, who lost her vision at age 14 and has since built a global community across YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, delivered a powerful keynote highlighting how exclusion often stems from oversight, not ability. “Designing with accessibility in mind isn’t charity. It’s just good business,” said Burke. “And right now, the beauty industry is leaving millions of people behind.”
One in five Australians live with a disability. Factor in carers, friends and family, and you’re looking at a community of millions – with an estimated $40 billion in spending power.
Despite this, many beauty products and packaging remain difficult to navigate for people with low vision or blindness. The Boundless Beauty Summit called time on that.
“Accessibility in beauty isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a fundamental right,” said Michael Apte, Chief Marketing Officer of Guide Dogs NSW/ACT. “Everyone deserves to feel seen, valued and included. This campaign calls on Australian brands to be part of the solution, and part of the future of a truly inclusive industry.”
In response to conversations at the Summit, Guide Dogs has launched a new industry-facing toolkit, in collaboration by brand studio, By Ninja. Designed to drive immediate change, the Accessible Beauty Guidelines offer practical recommendations such as:
• Tactile markers for product differentiation
• High-contrast labelling
• Audio-enabled QR codes
• Inclusive product naming
“Results demonstrate accessibility benefits everyone. Accessible design is good design”” said Apte. “And in global markets where it’s prioritised, accessible brands are already enjoying up to four times the reach.”
As part of its broader Boundless behaviour change campaign focused on dismantling the barriers that prevent people with low vision or blindness from living a full life, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is now calling on brands to go one step further. It’s actively looking to partner with a beauty brand to co-create Australia’s first truly accessible beauty product – and set a new standard for inclusive innovation.
“We’re at a moment where commercial creativity can do more than just cut through, it can close the gap,” said Caroline Catterall, CEO of Keep Left. “Accessibility is a business advantage hiding in plain sight, and bold brands that lead now will define the future of beauty in Australia.”
“This is the next frontier,” added Apte. “We’re proud to lead the charge and we’re looking for brave, commercially minded brands that want to make beauty better for everyone. Including those who can’t see it.”
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
Chief Executive Officer: Dale Cleaver
Chief Marketing Officer: Michael Apte
Campaigns Manager: Sarah Watts
Advocacy Campaigns Manager: Aroha Nisbett
Access and Advocacy Advisor: Dianne Shaddock
Community Mobiliser: Aimee Huxley
Senior Event Coordinator: Tori Larosa
Creative and PR: Keep Left
CEO: Caroline Catterall
Managing Partner, Creative & Content: Johanna Murray
Executive Creative Director: Blair Kimber
Senior Copywriter: Ruby Gill
Junior Art Director: Tyler Cicerale
Strategy Director: Laura Agricola
Strategist: Harris Galloway
Strategist: Zach Edwards
Client Partner: Jessica Williams
Senior Account Manager: Annabelle Sheridan
Account Director – PR: Rebecca Shaw
Account Manager – PR: Kyra Tsitsinaris
Account Coordinator – PR: Issy Rawson
Accessible Design Guidelines: By Ninja
Founder: Kathleen Casford