Digital Accessibility

Creating Accessible Graphic Design Makes A Difference!

Continual Engine Team
September 7, 2024

Designing a website is about how aesthetically pleasing it will look and how usable it is. Just aesthetics will never serve the purpose, and designers have to be mindful of usability while designing any web page or site. Essentially, designing a website that is accessible to everyone, irrespective of their ability or limitations, is very important. Having accessible graphic design means that everyone can understand and use the graphics for an inclusive web experience.

What Is Accessible Graphic Design?

Graphic design communicates any message or brand through graphics and visual elements for digital media. When the design is made in a way that anyone can understand, the content becomes more accessible.

Accessible graphic design means creating visual content that can be used, understood, and enjoyed by as many people as possible, even those with disabilities and needs. Inclusive graphic design is one where the graphs, charts, or images are interpreted even by people with disabilities. More websites need to be made with accessible graphic designs.

These Factors Make Graphic Design Accessible

The impact is evident when websites are made with people with disabilities in mind. Accessible graphic design not only helps people with disabilities navigate sites and understand the visual content independently, but it also makes them feel included and valued.

Compliance with Guidelines and Standards

When the content you create aligns with the standard guidelines provided for making accessible graphic design, you are on the right path. Several such resources and guidelines are available, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and the Accessible Ion Project.

Reach Out to a Wider Audience

Inclusive graphic designs reach more people as they can be understood by people from all communities, including those with disabilities and visual impairments who use screen readers, etc. It is a great way to communicate with everyone.

Ease of Comprehension

Accessible graphic design is easy to understand and designed for quick information comprehension. It greatly improves the user experience for everyone when understanding the graphics is fast and easy.

Wide Variety of Devices

A huge variety of devices are available, from phones to laptops to tablets, and the sizes of each device are different. So, accessible graphic designs would be such that they can be presented across any type of screen, irrespective of the size or type of model.

Inclusion of People With Disabilities

People with visual impairment can access designs and information through a screen reader; assistive technologies are also available to interpret designs, graphs, etc. This is a great way to include people with disabilities.

Diversity of Cognitive Abilities

Accessible graphic design includes making elements that are more descriptive and informative, which helps not only people with visual impairment but also those with learning difficulties or different levels of cognitive abilities.

Best Tips to Design Accessible Graphics

To design accessible graphics, you must always be mindful of the needs of a diverse range of people and remember how what you design will be used by so many different types of people across different platforms and devices. These tips will help you make your graphic designs more inclusive.

1. Keyboard Commands

While most users who visit your website use a mouse to navigate the site, a few with disabilities use the keyboard, too. So, you need to ensure your website operates on keyboard commands, too. All the functions that a mouse does should be done with a keyboard, too. Clear visual indicators should be on all the buttons, descriptive labels, and headings.

2. Accessibility Tests

Try out your designs on a screen reader and other assertive technologies to test their usability and accessibility. WCAG Testing should also be done to check compliance with the standards and guidelines provided by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

3. Navigation and User Interface / Forms

Navigation is at the core of any website. Designers need to make sure all users can navigate the website. A few users with motor impairments might not use the mouse to navigate. For such users, keyboard commands should be available and labeled. Voice commands are also quite helpful in making graphic designs accessible.

All users prefer short and simple forms. Complex forms are generally ignored or looked down upon by most users. Forms are used for interactions, like filling out an order form, registering, etc. This also has to do with navigation, so forms should also be keyboard-friendly and well-labelled on all websites.

4. Universality and Usability

Any design that is usable by most people is good. So, accessibility in graphic design means usability. When the visual content is effective, satisfying, and understandable to a variety of people, including people with disabilities, the graphic design becomes accessible. So, accessibility focuses more on usability than the design’s visual appeal.

5. Significant Alternative Texts

Whenever you create graphics, include alternative texts, i.e., alternate information to describe the image. Alternative text for images helps people with visual impairment interpret the visuals and images better and also aids in search engine optimization. Alternative texts are descriptions of the images, so writing accurate alternative texts is essential.

6. Incorporate Color Contrast

Colors are one of the most important factors in creating graphics. Be mindful of using contrasting colors and accessible color palettes so that people with visual impairment can also understand your visual content. Color contrast is important to ensure texts and images remain distinct; this will help those with lower vision or color blindness. The WCAG mentions a standard for minimum color contrast ratios; following it will also improve the readability and understanding of the content.

7. Typography and Readability

The font size and type of your website matter extensively when discussing accessibility. The right font type and size will enhance the user experience and readability. In contrast, incorrect font will make it difficult for a user with a disability to access the content. Always use appropriate font and spacing between lines so everyone can read the text easily. Select easy-to-read fonts over decorative ones.

Accessible graphic design is the way forward and a great way to ensure information is understood and enjoyed by everyone, even those with disabilities. Making graphic design and web content more inclusive and accessible also empowers people from all backgrounds and communities.

Making the user experience seamless and universal is at the core of accessible graphic design. With standards and guidelines available to make graphic design more accessible, it should be adapted for all websites and visual content.