How can a designer make a website inclusive?
3 min read

When we want to get likes and comments on Behance and Dribbble, we forget that proper design is not only about visual impact; it's also about usability. Our main task is to make users' lives convenient by simplifying their experience with the product.

There are many aspects of accessibility that you should consider when building a website. Many of them are beyond the control of designers. For example, the development team is responsible for using the correct tags for headings and alternative texts for images.

Color Accessibility

According to the WHO, over 300 million people suffer from color blindness. If we develop our design in such a way that a person with complete color blindness (not seeing colors at all) can use it, other people with color blindness will also be able to use this product. Just check how the site looks in black and white, for example, using Colorblindly.

How visually impaired people see on the example of PetmateAI's image and website

Contrast

Some standards, such as WCAG, specify the minimum contrast for websites. 

  • Level A: Standard accessibility requirements that provide a basic level of support for users with disabilities.
  • Level AA: An intermediate level of accessibility that sets standards to ensure an acceptable level of accessibility for most users. This level is usually required by law in many countries.
  • Level AAA: The highest level of accessibility, which sets the most stringent accessibility requirements. It provides the broadest support for users with various
    types of disabilities. This level can be difficult to achieve, and its use is not always legally binding. For example, for the medium accessibility level (AA), the minimum contrast ratio for text should be 4.5:1.


Contrast Grid and Web AIM can help you check color contrast, and you can also read about all the contrast requirements for each level on Web AIM


Color Independence

Color is essential, but it is not the only way to convey information.

Errors in red are not effective for people with color blindness. Instead, use text-based error messages to avoid difficulties in understanding for all users.

How visual elements help people with color blindness distinguish information

Heading Hierarchy and Typography

Fonts should convey information rather than just visually decorate text. Avoid using very graphic fonts as they can hinder the perception of content by people with visual impairments. Instead, use fonts that are clear and easy to read, with special attention to size and contrast.

Use the correct heading structure (e.g., h1, h2, h3) to clearly present content. This will help screen readers better understand how the information is structured and convey it to users faster.

How the right contrast, style, and size make text easier to read

Responsive Design

Despite the widespread use of responsive design, some websites are still not optimized for mobile devices. It's crucial to actively work on responsiveness to ensure convenient access to content regardless of the device. For designers, this means creating screens in different resolutions, including desktop, tablet, and mobile devices.

Conclusion

Inclusive design is an essential component of any project. Ensuring accessibility and usability for all users is a crucial aspect of creating successful interfaces.
We've covered some simple but effective inclusive design practices. By implementing them, we can easily make our projects more accessible to all users.

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