It’s safe to say that UI/UX design has come a long way since the early days of the internet. In the beginning, web design was all about creating static pages that were simply meant to be read. However, as technology has advanced, so has design. Designers now have the tools and knowledge to create interactive, engaging, and accessible designs. 👍 But what does accessibility mean in terms of UI/UX design? In this blog post, we’ll explore the ways in which UI/UX design trends are evolving to improve accessibility.

đź‘€ What is Accessibility?

Accessibility is all about making digital products and services accessible to all people, regardless of their ability or disability. This includes people who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically impaired, or those with cognitive disabilities. Accessibility means that everyone should be able to use and navigate websites and digital products without facing any barriers. It’s not just about making products usable for a small percentage of people with disabilities. It’s about creating inclusive designs that cater to everyone’s needs.

To achieve accessibility, there are some techniques and practices that UI/UX designers need to adopt. Let’s explore them further:

đź’ˇ Designing for Screen Readers

Screen readers are a critical assistive technology for people with visual impairments. A screen reader software converts digital text on a screen into speech or braille output for those who are visually impaired.

UI/UX design trends have been evolving to make designs screen-reader compatible by using alt text in images and ensuring that the content is semantically structured. Alt text describes the images that allow users to understand the visual context and meaning, and this helps users with visual impairments understand what’s in the picture.

When creating a design, it’s important to ensure that the content is semantically structured. This means using the correct HTML element for a specific type of content, such as headings, paragraphs, and lists. Screen reader software uses this structure to decipher the content of the page, so it’s important to get it right. 👍

Screen reader software converting text on screen to speech output

🎨 Color Contrast

Color contrast is another essential aspect of accessibility in UI/UX design. People with colorblindness or low vision may not be able to distinguish between colors that have low contrast. Designers need to consider this when creating layouts.

To achieve accessibility, designers need to ensure that there is enough contrast between text and background colors. The recommended contrast ratio is 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. If a designer wants to use color to convey additional meaning, they should also make sure there is enough contrast between the colors used.

A screenshot of a web page with low contrast text

🙋‍♀️ User-Centered Design

It’s important to put the user at the center of the design process. This means taking into consideration their needs, wants, and preferences when designing interfaces. User-centered design involves testing designs with real people and incorporating their feedback into the design process.

By putting users at the forefront of design, designers can create designs that cater to their needs, which includes accessibility. When designing interfaces, it’s essential to consider how the user will interact with the design and any potential barriers they may face. User testing can help identify these barriers and inform the design process.

Designers testing a website with real people

📱 Responsive Design

With an increasing number of users accessing websites and digital products with their mobile devices, responsive design has become essential. However, responsive design also needs to be accessible design.

Designers need to ensure that the content is optimized for mobile devices, which includes choosing the right font size, spacing, and layout. Icons, buttons and other elements need to be large enough to be easily tapped on touchscreens, and the overall design needs to be straightforward to navigate.

A comparison of a web page on a desktop and mobile device

🔎 Conclusion

In conclusion, UI/UX design trends are evolving to improve accessibility. Designers now have the necessary tools to create accessible designs that cater to everyone’s needs. The key is to ensure that designers are adopting the right techniques and practices, such as designing for screen readers, using appropriate color contrast, adopting user-centered design, and creating responsive designs. By prioritizing accessibility in their design process, designers can create inclusive designs that benefit everyone.

A group of diverse individuals using and engaging with a website