Building Usability and Accessibility into Digital Products
- 5 minutes read
- Author: Lily Venerable
Usability and accessibility are crucial in modern product design, extending beyond websites to include all digital products. This approach not only enhances user experience but also broadens the potential user base.
In today’s digital landscape, usability and accessibility have become essential components of successful product design. While legal standards such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) have helped increase awareness and action around website accessibility, it’s equally critical to extend this focus into product design.
Usability and inclusive design ensure that digital products are not only intuitive and easy to use but also accessible to people of all abilities. While this certainly creates a better experience for users, it also expands the marketplace of users significantly.
- 1.3 billion people (16% of the world population) are affected by a significant disability (WHO)
- 27% of adults (1 in 4) have a disability (CDC)
- 2.5 billion people require assistive technology (WHO)
By prioritizing usability and accessibility principles, companies can reach a broader audience, drive customer satisfaction, and build products that truly serve everyone, fostering innovation and growth in a competitive market. Here are some best practices to help you avoid common pitfalls and improve your product’s accessibility:
1. Follow Accessibility Standards
Adhere to guidelines like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure your product meets established accessibility criteria. Although the WCAG is specifically written for websites, being level AA compliant is generally accepted as the industry standard for digital products, as well. For mobile apps, consider the Accessibility for Android (A11Y) and iOS Accessibility Guidelines.
2. Use Clear Design Principles
- Color : Ensure color contrast between text and background is sufficient. Don’t rely on color alone to convey information or indicate changes.
- Fonts : Choose fonts that are legible and allow users to adjust the text size without losing content or functionality.
- Copy : Keep language simple and avoid using jargon. Links and button labels should be concise yet descriptive enough so users know where they’re going or what action they’re taking.
- Content Organization : Use headings, lists, and tables effectively to convey information. In more complex products, workflows, task-oriented structures, clear instructions and feedback might be required to support user goals.
3. Design with Navigation in Mind
Properly structure HTML with headings, lists, and landmarks to help assistive technologies navigate the content. Use Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) roles and properties to enhance accessibility where HTML alone isn’t sufficient. Arranging focusable elements in a logical order, providing clear visual cues when elements receive keyboard focus, and ensuring that form fields, buttons, and interactive elements are accessible via keyboard make for a smooth experience.
For products that employ more complex User Interface (UI) elements such as sliders, modals, and drag-and-drop features, ensure those elements are operable via keyboard, voice commands, and other assistive technologies.
4. Include Alt Text, Captions, and Transcripts
Include descriptive alt text for images, charts, and graphs. Provide captions for videos and transcripts for audio content. Alt text and transcripts can be read by screen readers.
5. Incorporate Responsive Design
Make sure your product is usable on various devices and screen sizes to accommodate user preferences. The text should re-flow without losing content or functionality, and content should adjust accordingly to device orientation.
6. Conduct Regular User Feedback/Usability Tests
Usability and accessibility are not set-it-and-forget-it processes. Regularly review and update your applications to continue to improve usability and update accessibility. Collecting user feedback regularly is best practice. Using checklists and accessibility tools can also help keep accessibility up to date. For instance, at CoStrategix, we partner with accessiBe for its full spectrum of accessibility capabilities. This tool assists with audits, automation, and scaling the accessibility function on websites – and products.
Designing with usability and accessibility in mind removes barriers for individuals with disabilities and enhances the overall user experience for all. Implementing these practices can significantly impact the growth and satisfaction of your digital product, fostering a user-friendly experience for all users.
CoStrategix builds experience design and accessibility best practices into all of its digital products. If you are interested in learning more about CoStrategix’s product development services, please feel free to reach out.
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