Pave the way for innovation that is truly inclusive and impactful in today’s digital landscape.
In the dynamic world of startups, where innovation and speed-to-market are critical, integrating accessible design principles might seem like an added challenge. However, focusing on accessibility from the outset can yield numerous benefits, including broader market reach, improved user satisfaction, and alignment with legal and ethical standards. Here’s how fast-moving startups can effectively incorporate accessible design into their product development process:
1. Start with Awareness and Education
Begin by fostering awareness among your team about the importance of accessible design. Educate stakeholders—designers, developers, and product managers—about the principles of accessibility, including WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards. This foundational knowledge ensures everyone understands the significance of creating products that cater to diverse user needs.
2. Integrate Accessibility from Day One
Embed accessibility considerations into the earliest stages of product ideation and design. Encourage cross-functional collaboration where accessibility is treated as a core requirement alongside functionality and aesthetics. Addressing accessibility early prevents costly redesigns later in the development cycle. This can be done by embedding accessibility standards directly into components within an existing design, either at the point of new component creation or by enhancing components as part of a wider feature. Integrating accessibility from day one can also be achieved by creating accessible designs within Figma through the use of tools such as the A11y Annotation Kit.
3. Design for Inclusivity
Create user personas that encompass a wide range of abilities, including users with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive impairments. Consider their needs, preferences, and challenges throughout the design process, and test for these using products such as in-built screen readers, JAWS, or free tools such as Google Lighthouse. Use inclusive design practices to ensure all users can interact with your product effectively.
4. Prioritize Navigation and User Interface (UI) Design
Pay special attention to navigation and UI design to enhance accessibility, as the navigation element is often central to all interaction points. Ensure clear and consistent navigation pathways with logical structure and labeling. Use sufficient color contrast, readable fonts, and intuitive controls that are easy to understand and operate for all users. The WCAG offers a guidance checklist to achieve conformance.
5. Leverage Assistive Technologies
Test your product with assistive technologies such as screen readers, voice recognition software, and keyboard navigation. Ensure compatibility and functionality for users who rely on these tools to access digital content. Conduct usability testing with individuals who have disabilities to gather feedback and iterate on design improvements. These can include recorded digital meetings or in-person shadowing sessions.
6. Provide Alternative Content and Descriptions
Offer alternative formats for content that cannot be accessed through conventional means. Provide text alternatives for images and multimedia content, including descriptive alt text. Ensure video and audio content include captions or transcripts for users with hearing impairments. The perceivable principle of the POUR principles of web accessibility (perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust) will help you deliver an interface that can be understood by all users.
7. Optimize Performance and Speed
Accessibility goes beyond usability — it also encompasses performance. Ensure your product loads quickly and operates efficiently across devices and network conditions. Smooth performance enhances the user experience for everyone, including users with disabilities who may rely on stable, responsive interfaces. In today’s world of lightening quick data and wifi speeds, this can often be overlooked; however, it still remains a key component of creating accessible products.
8. Foster a Culture of Accessibility
Promote a culture where accessibility is valued and prioritized across the organization. Encourage ongoing education, training, and awareness sessions to keep accessibility at the forefront of product design and development efforts. This can promote and assist accessibility in becoming more of a focus within sprint development. If wider team members, especially managers or those at C-level, understand the value of creating accessible products, the commitment to allocating time and resources to it becomes easier and more of a guarantee.
9. Stay Informed and Compliant
Stay updated with evolving accessibility standards and regulations relevant to your product and market. Regularly review and align your design practices with WCAG guidelines or applicable accessibility laws. Compliance not only enhances usability but also mitigates legal risks and reinforces your commitment to inclusivity. WCAG updates can be small but frequent, with major regulation changes happening every 4-5 years. The latest success criteria is WCAG 2.2, and all information about this version can be found on their website.
10. Iterate and Improve
Embrace an iterative approach to accessibility. Continuously gather user feedback, conduct accessibility audits, and monitor analytics to identify areas for improvement. Implementing user-centric design iterations ensures your product evolves to better meet the needs of all users, enhancing overall usability and satisfaction.
Conclusion
Incorporating accessible design into product development is not just a responsibility; it’s an opportunity for startups to differentiate themselves positively in the market. By embedding accessibility principles from the outset, fostering a culture of inclusivity, and prioritizing user experience for all, startups can create products that resonate with a diverse audience and drive sustainable growth. Embracing accessible design isn’t just about meeting regulatory requirements; it’s about creating meaningful and impactful products and experiences that empower users of all abilities to engage fully with your product. By integrating these principles, startups can pave the way for innovation that is truly inclusive and impactful in today’s digital landscape.
Useful resources
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Figma accessibility annotation kit:
<https://www.figma.com/community/file/953682768192596304> -
What’s new in WCAG 2.2:
<https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/new-in-22/> -
WCAG 2.2 checklist:
<https://webaim.org/standards/wcag/checklist> -
WebAIM colour contrast checker:
<https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/> -
JAWS screenreader software:
<https://www.freedomscientific.com/products/software/jaws/> -
Understanding POUR principles:
<https://ialabs.ie/understanding-the-pour-principles-of-accessibility/>