This document discusses accessibility in design systems. It provides examples and guidance on making design systems accessible. Some key points include:
- Accessibility should be considered from the beginning when designing systems, not as an afterthought. It benefits all users.
- Color contrast, keyboard support, labels, form elements and semantic HTML are important for accessibility.
- Design systems should include accessibility guidelines and principles in addition to visual style guides and components.
- Auditing systems and catching accessibility issues early is important to ensure usable products. Accessibility needs to be implemented thoughtfully throughout the entire design and development process.
5. We use a Persona Spectrum to understand related limitations
across a spectrum of permanent, temporary, and situational
disabilities. Itâs a quick tool to help foster empathy and to
show how a solution can scale to a broader audience.
Support Card | The Persona Spectrum
Permanent Temporary Situational
Touch
en temporary or situational.
ck which limitations apply to
e Canât speak
r Canât touch
@BennoLoewenberg
Source:
Microsoft
Inclusive
Design
Toolkit
Ayeâ!
Deaf Ear infection Bartender
Speak
Non-verbal Laryngitis Heavy accent
6. Canât see Canât speak
Canât hear Canât touch
Blind Cataract Distracted driver
Hear
Deaf Ear infection Bartender
Speak
Non-verbal Laryngitis Heavy accent
We use a Persona Spectrum to understand related limitations
across a spectrum of permanent, temporary, and situational
disabilities. Itâs a quick tool to help foster empathy and to
show how a solution can scale to a broader audience.
Support Card | The Persona Spectrum
Permanent Temporary Situational
Touch
@BennoLoewenberg
Source:
Microsoft
Inclusive
Design
Toolkit
7. One arm Arm injury New parent
See
Blind Cataract Distracted driver
Hear
Deaf Ear infection Bartender
Disabilities are often temporary or situational.
Use this card to pick which limitations apply to
your scenario.
Canât see Canât speak
Canât hear Canât touch
We use a Persona Spectrum to understand related limitations
across a spectrum of permanent, temporary, and situational
disabilities. Itâs a quick tool to help foster empathy and to
show how a solution can scale to a broader audience.
Support Card | The Persona Spectrum
Permanent Temporary Situational
Touch
@BennoLoewenberg
Source:
Microsoft
Inclusive
Design
Toolkit
traffic observant
8. e Canât speak
r Canât touch
show how a solution can scale to a broader audience.
Permanent Temporary Situational
Touch
One arm Arm injury New parent
See
Blind Cataract Distracted driver
We use a Persona Spectrum to understand related limitations
across a spectrum of permanent, temporary, and situational
disabilities. Itâs a quick tool to help foster empathy and to
show how a solution can scale to a broader audience.
Support Card | The Persona Spectrum
Permanent Temporary Situational
Touch
Source:
Microsoft
Inclusive
Design
Toolkit
@BennoLoewenberg
9. âApproach accessibility as
a customer experience imperative,
not a compliance-driven initiave.â
Source:
Gina
Bhalwalkar
@BennoLoewenberg
21. @BennoLoewenberg
The curb-cut effect
is beneficial for all
Parents with strollers, Elderly, Cyclists,
Delivery workers with push carts,
Tourists with heavy luggage, âŚ
22. âYou can have antiquated systems,
but if you have an accessible
interface, it can completely
transform that experienceâ
Source.
Rachel
Haot
@BennoLoewenberg
40. Il1 db qp CO eo
Il1 db qp CO eo
Il1 db qp CO eo
@BennoLoewenberg
Font
faces:
âHelvetica
/
Arialâ
âAesteticoâ
âFranziskaâ
!
! !
+
+ +
+
+
+ +
+
+ +
+
!
!
41. @BennoLoewenberg
â
| decypherable by dyslexic
â
| complies WCAG minimum settings
â
| scalable by user settings (dynamic type)
â READABLE TYPEâ
57. âInherently inclusive design systems
that contain accessible patterns
donât guarantee accessible products.â
Source.
Roy
&
Curtis
@BennoLoewenberg
58. Accessibility should be backed
into the design system strategy
Sources:
Cook
&
Curtis
IMPLEMENTING ACCESSBILITY
Embedded in System Configured by Team Work identified by Audit
+ +
@BennoLoewenberg
61. BUILDING BLOCKS (STYLE GUIDE)
Color Pallettes Typographic Scales Grid Definitions Icons & Assets
UI PATTERNS (LIBRARY)
Elements Components Modules Templates
RULES (GUIDELINES)
Design Principles Implementation Guidelines Editorial Guidelines
@BennoLoewenberg
Source:
UX
Pin
integrate accessibility here
62. âDefine what you mean,
when you say, you are accessible.â
Source:
Verison
Brand
Guidelines
@BennoLoewenberg
Design Principles Implementation Guidelines Editorial Guidelines
63. Designing for users who are
deaf or
hard of hearing ď¤
Do...
write in
plain language
use subtitles
or provide
transcripts for
videos
use a linear,
logical layout
!
CC
!
Donât...
use complicated
words or figures
of speech
!
put content in
audio or video
only
make complex
layouts and
menus
!
!
Designing for users who are
deaf or
hard of hearing ď¤
Do...
write in
plain language
use subtitles
or provide
transcripts for
videos
use a linear,
logical layout
break up content
with sub-headings,
!
CC
!
Donât...
use complicated
words or figures
of speech
!
put content in
audio or video
only
make complex
layouts and
menus
make users
read long blocks
!
!
Design Principles Implementation Guidelines Editorial Guidelines
Source:
UK
Home
Office
â
Accessibility
Posters
@BennoLoewenberg
Designing for usersââŚ
Designing for users with
dyslexia
XyL
dAS
e
i
XyL
dAS
e
i
XyL
dAS
e
i
Do...
use images and
diagrams to
support text
align text to the
left and keep a
consistent layout
consider producing
materials in other
formats (for example
audio or video)
keep content
short, clear
and simple
let users change the
contrast between
background and text
!
!
Donât...
use large
blocks of
heavy text
underline words,
use italics or
write in capitals
force users to remember
things from previous
pages - give reminders
and prompts
rely on accurate
spelling - use
autocorrect or
provide suggestions
put too much
information in
one place
!!
DONâT
DO THIS
!
!
!
dyslexia
dsyle
Designing for users with
dyslexia
XyL
dAS
e
i
XyL
dAS
e
i
XyL
dAS
e
i
Do...
use images and
diagrams to
support text
align text to the
left and keep a
consistent layout
consider producing
materials in other
formats (for example
audio or video)
keep content
short, clear
and simple
let users change the
contrast between
background and text
!
!
!
Donât...
use large
blocks of
heavy text
underline words,
use italics or
write in capitals
force users to remember
things from previous
pages - give reminders
and prompts
rely on accurate
spelling - use
autocorrect or
provide suggestions
put too much
information in
one place
!!
DONâT
DO THIS
!
!
!
dyslexia
dsyle
!
ukhomeoffice.github.io/accessibility-posters/
posters/accessibility-posters.pdf
Designing for users with
physical or motor
disabilities
Do...
make large
clickable actions
Yes
give clickable
elements space
design for
keyboard or
speech only
use
design with mobile
and touchscreen
in mind
provide shortcuts
Tab
!
!"
Find address
Postcode
Donât...
demand
precision
No
bunch
interactions
together
make dynamic
content that
requires a lot of
mouse movement
have short
time out
windows
tire users
with lots of
typing and
scrolling
!
!
1
2
3
2a
2b
2c
!
Your session
has timed out
Address
ng for users with
al or motor
ities
Yes
Tab
!
!"
Find address
Postcode
Donât...
demand
precision
No
bunch
interactions
together
make dynamic
content that
requires a lot of
mouse movement
have short
time out
windows
tire users
with lots of
typing and
scrolling
!
!
1
2
3
2a
2b
2c
!
Your session
has timed out
Address
ukhomeoffice.github.io/accessibility-posters/
posters/accessibility-posters.pdf
Designing for users with
anxiety
Do...
give users enough
time to complete
an action
explain what
will happen after
completing a
service
make important
information clear
Donât...
rush users or set
impractical time
limits
leave users
confused about
next steps or
timeframes
leave users
uncertain about
the consequences
of their actions
1
3
2
4
We have sent
you an email
ng for users with
ty
h
Donât...
rush users or set
impractical time
limits
leave users
confused about
next steps or
timeframes
leave users
uncertain about
the consequences
of their actions
1
3
2
4
make support
or help hard to
access
We have sent
you an email
Designing for users on the
autistic spectrum
Do...
write in
plain language
use simple
colours
use simple
sentences and
bullets
make buttons
descriptive
build simple and
consistent layouts
!
Donât...
use bright
contrasting colours
use figures of
speech and idioms
create a wall
of text
make buttons
vague and
unpredictable
build complex and
cluttered layouts
!
!!
Designing for users on the
autistic spectrum
Do...
write in
plain language
use simple
colours
use simple
sentences and
bullets
make buttons
descriptive
build simple and
consistent layouts
!
!
Donât...
use bright
contrasting colours
use figures of
speech and idioms
create a wall
of text
make buttons
vague and
unpredictable
build complex and
cluttered layouts
!
!!
!
ukhomeoffice.github.io/accessibility-posters/
posters/accessibility-posters.pdf
Designing for users of
screen readers !
"
Do...
describe images
and provide
transcripts
for video
<alt>
Donât...
only show
information in an
image or video
Designing for users of
screen readers !
"
Do...
describe images
and provide
transcripts
for video
follow a linear
<alt>
Donât...
only show
information in an
image or video
spread content
Designing for users with
low vision ď¨
ď¨
Do...
use good colour
contrasts and a
readable font size
publish all information
on web pages
use a combination
of colour, shapes
and text
Aa
!
HTML
Start
Donât...
use low colour
contrasts and small
font size
bury information
in downloads
only use colour to
convey meaning
Aa
!
Designing for users with
low vision ď¨
ď¨
Do...
use good colour
contrasts and a
readable font size
publish all information
on web pages
use a combination
of colour, shapes
and text
follow a linear,
Aa
!
HTML
Start
200% magniďŹcation
Donât...
use low colour
contrasts and small
font size
bury information
in downloads
only use colour to
convey meaning
spread content all
Aa
!
200% magniďŹcation
89. âWhen we design for disability first,
you often stumble upon solutions
that are better than those
when we design for the norm.â
Source.
Elise
Roy
@BennoLoewenberg
91. âWhen we treat accessibility
as a requirement box to check,
we can miss opportunities to design
better products and services, period.â
Source:
Mason
Magyar
@BennoLoewenberg