The Arthritis Foundation is advancing its mission to make everyday life easier for people living with arthritis with the creation of the Arthritis Foundation’s Tilt Ease of Use℠ Lab in Atlanta, a new facility supported by Tilt Beauty, the first beauty brand to earn the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Certification across their entire makeup collection.
Building on a 21-year track record of certifying products and packaging for consumers and brands, the lab will expand the Foundation’s capacity to perform lab and human factors evaluations as part of its program to certify inclusive product and packaging design as easier to use. It is expected to open in late 2026.
Bringing the Ease of Use program’s testing in-house will allow the Arthritis Foundation to accelerate work in inclusive design and scale its impact. The lab will offer testing services as part of the Ease of Use program, which includes direct consultation with engineers and access to evidence-based design guides, all aimed at helping companies develop products and packaging that work better for everyone, including the nearly 60 million people living with arthritis in the U.S.
“For millions of people with arthritis, everyday tasks, from opening a jar to using personal care products, can be a challenge,” said Steven Taylor, president and CEO of the Arthritis Foundation. “By bringing the Ease of Use testing lab in-house, we can more efficiently provide lab and human factors evaluation for products and packaging. This lab ensures that arthritis patients continue to have a voice in how products are designed, creating a world where accessibility is the standard, not the exception.”
Since launching in 2025, Tilt Beauty has worked to raise the standard for accessibility in beauty by designing with ease of use as a priority. As the first beauty brand to earn the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use® Certification, Tilt has demonstrated how inclusive design can create a better experience for everyone, including people living with arthritis or chronic pain. Through its support of the Arthritis Foundation’s Tilt Ease of Use lab, Tilt Beauty is extending their accessibility commitment beyond beauty and expanding their partnership with the Arthritis Foundation to achieve a joint goal of enabling more companies to design products and packaging with accessibility at the core.
“Tilt Beauty is honored to support the creation of the Arthritis Foundation’s Tilt Ease of Use Lab and the important work of the Arthritis Foundation,” said Aerin Glazer, founder of Tilt Beauty. “Design impacts everyone, and when we make products easier to use for people with arthritis, we make them better for all. This lab will help bring that vision to life and strengthen the Ease of Use program’s capacity to provide more brands with the resources to create accessible products.”
The Ease of Use program continues to drive change in how companies approach product and packaging design. According to the Arthritis Foundation’s 2024 Ease of Use Study, 90% of consumers report needing help opening packaging, and nearly 70% of people with arthritis struggle with products that require twisting or gripping. These challenges have real-world consequences, from pain and injury to decreased brand loyalty. By helping brands prioritize accessibility early in the design process, the Ease of Use certification has supported a shift toward more inclusive, easier-to-use products and packaging that benefit everyone.
“The Ease of Use certification is a signal for consumers and a benchmark for brands committed to universal design,” said Michael Privette, chief development officer at the Arthritis Foundation. “Through partnerships with companies like Tilt Beauty, we’ve shown that inclusive design supports both impact and product development. The new lab will strengthen this process, giving more brands access to testing that, paired with the program's expert guidance, helps make products easier for everyone to use.”
As the lab opens, the Arthritis Foundation will continue its commitment to working with brands, engineers and designers to develop products and packaging that help people live fuller, more independent lives. The lab represents the next phase of the Ease of Use program and the Foundation’s broader mission to improve the quality of life for people living with arthritis.
