Design: Accessibility

Digital products are about content. Even if you think they’re all about interactivity, controls are pointless if users don’t understand their purpose and cannot read about what they do. The most important thing you can do to make a Web site or app usable is to make sure everyone can read its text, on every device, under every condition.

Units and Conversions

First, let’s define some terminology. People often use the term font incorrectly these days. Technically, in the modern world, a font is a digital file containing a particular typeface. In this column, I’ll be using the term type when referring to the characters that make up printed or displayed text—including the content, the font or typeface, and its size and color. Read More

In the span of just a few years, mobile devices have gone from being useful gadgets to essential lifelines. They seamlessly bridge the gap between the physical and digital realms, making information and services readily accessible to their users at all times. And yet, our appreciation of this convenience often overlooks a crucial aspect of the user experience: mobile accessibility. It’s vital to understand that designing for mobile isn’t just about aesthetics or functionality; it’s about inclusivity.

However, designing for small screens comes with its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. Designing for the reduced screen real estate of mobile devices demands both creativity and precision. Every pixel counts, and every interaction matters. Mobile design is a balancing act between functionality and simplicity, in which the goal is to create a user experience that is easy to use for all. Read More

The whole point of technology is to make our lives easier. It helps us save time and effort so we can focus on what’s really important in life rather than on the mundane tasks we need to complete. Because of accessible design, which is a subset of universal design, people who are disabled can now potentially enjoy a level of convenience that is similar to that of the rest of the population. However, when the typical Web site is three times less useful for people with disabilities, these differences become all the more crucial.

People with disabilities face social exclusion, and apathetic communities send the message that their difficulties are their own. This is not how caring communities operate. Nor does widespread apathy encourage the creation of inclusive, user-friendly designs. While it could be difficult to completely eliminate barriers because of the specific needs of people with particular disabilities, there is definitely room for improvement in terms of making the Internet more user friendly for those with impairments. Read More