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3 accessibility basics you need to know as a designer
And what they mean in our age of inclusivity
This year, ‘UX Designer’ has continued to be one of the most sought-after skills for companies nationwide.
After all, we’re seeing the dawn of something that doesn’t normally get attention at your average company: an increased focus on releasing accessible products.
Companies have begun to recognize the returns in both time and user retention when they accommodate people with disabilities. With 15% of the population alone suffering from some form disability, it makes sense. This has only been accelerated by the pandemic and the resulting rise of remote work.
Research shows that digital products in full WGAC compliance are expected to out perform their competitors by 50% if said competitors aren’t in compliance. And seeing as the digital product market isn’t getting any smaller, competition is fierce.
Why is this skill in such high demand?
When it comes to job security, you may be in the clear as a designer already. But having a solid background in designing for accessibility can give you a real edge over the competition should you seek better opportunities.
Besides, crafty as you may be, a slick UX design is nothing if its color contrast causes vision problems. But some good news: accessibility isn’t always about sticking to a hard list of guidelines — it can be about finding a methodology that works for you as well.
Designing for accessibility means thinking of content as a tool.
Designing an accessible product is no easy task. Getting the basics down means understanding it from multiple points of view — from design, to prototype, to code. And as a designer, there is a high chance you will need to work closely with developers.
So let’s get started with the first basic concept you’ll need to be familiar with.
