Today’s class covered accessibility in all its forms. We looked at why it’s important, how to implement it in your design work, and what good accessible design looks like. I had a closer look into a few aspects, and some helpful information to ensure I am designing in an accessible way.
Colours should be used mindfully throughout design work to ensure that the contrast and readability is optimised, especially for people with visual impairments or colour blindness. It can make a huge difference in how easily people can interact with your design,
There are different forms of colour blindness, and all affect the vision differently. We were pointed in the direction of a few different tools to help with this, that allow us to view any website the way people would with any of these conditions. We actually touched on this last year, but it was good to revisit this again, colours must be accessible! Especially for things like AV dashboards which will be used by a wide range of people.
Typography is another important bit to consider in accessible design. The typefaces you choose should prioritise clarity and readability, especially for users with visual or cognitive impairments. Simple, sans-serif fonts tend to work best, as they’re easier to read at smaller sizes and across different devices. It’s also important to think about font size—small, cramped text can be a barrier for users, so ensuring text is large enough to read without zooming in is key. We also covered line spacing, which can help prevent text from feeling overwhelming or cluttered. Tools like accessibility checkers can ensure your type meets WCAG standards for legibility and contrast. Just like with colour, thoughtful typography ensures everyone can engage with your design effortlessly.
Level Access used a lot of surprising statistics on their website. There are 1.3 billion people worldwide living with disabilities, from visual and auditory impairments to cognitive, physical, and neurological conditions. Disabilities can hugely affect how people interact with the web. For example, users who are blind or have low vision might rely on screen readers or keyboard navigation, while those with motor impairments often use voice commands. Similarly, people who are deaf or hard of hearing depend on features like closed captions or transcripts to access audio content.
The goal of digital accessibility is to create online experiences that work for everyone, regardless of their abilities. However, the reality is stark—96% of the top one million home pages fail to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This gap highlights just how much work is needed to ensure the web is truly inclusive.
Adhering to the WCAG framework is a great starting point for eliminating these barriers, enabling all users to navigate, interact with, and understand digital content. It’s about creating something that everyone can use.
Level Access is a platform dedicated to improving digital accessibility. They offer a range of tools, resources, and insights to help designers and developers create inclusive experiences. One feature I found particularly helpful is their focus on compliance standards, like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). Their guides break down the requirements in a way that feels approachable, applicable even when just starting to think about accessibility.
They also have some tools that can help you assess your own designs, like accessibility audits and tips for fixing common issues. I don’t think i’ll need this just yet but it’s a great feature to have. They cater to both beginners and professionals in the industry—small websites or complex applications.
Exploring Level Access reinforced what we learned in class. For example: