One out of every five Americans has a disability. Many with disabilities can endure a very daunting experience navigating through websites that are not accessible. When people with disabilities find it challenging to navigate through your website, it is not only loss and frustration on their part because they will not be able to access products and services, but also on your part as you lose potential customers.
Consequently, having an accessible graphic design is a business imperative towards inclusivity and increasing potential leads coming your way. Additionally, by having an accessible website as stipulated by section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, you will also meet the requirements that electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities, including employees within an organization.
What is Accessible Graphic Design?
Accessible graphic design equates to a website that enables the user to navigate. Graphic design is the visual expression of how an organization’s website communicates with the user. As such, regardless of how nice in appearance your product or service is, if the graphic design is not accessible, users with visual impairments will not get the information or message on your website. An accessible graphic design combines texts and visuals that are easy on the eye and legible enough for people with a wide range of disabilities.
Does an Accessible Graphic Design Limit Artistry?
An accessible graphic design does not have to affect the artistic ability of or attention to the website. The goal of accessibility is to have everyone enabled with navigation throughout your website. Adjusting accessibility to accommodate actually empowers users, whose disabilities may affect website navigation. It also does not affect any aspect of creativity or desired design. You can channel your creativity towards a straightforward yet professional and accessible design. So, what are some ways you can make graphic design more accessible?
Making Graphic Design More Accessible
1. Friendly Typeface and Fonts
Graphic design should employ the use of a friendly typeface. The typeface of a website or document determines the legibility and readability of information. An accessible typeface makes it easy for people with disabilities to have an easy visual reading experience.
Specific disabilities may hinder a user from being able to tell letters apart when they are in lowercase. The weight of the typeface should also focus on the fundamentals of an accessible graphic design. Overly decorative typefaces may compromise the recognition and distinction of letters.
2. Use Recognizable Icons
Friendly colors are a great way of representing functions or information within a website. However, people who are colorblind may have a challenging time recognizing the colors and may miss out on important information.
You can use icons that indicate a specific function in addition to the colors. For instance, red is commonly used to highlight errors; instead of the color, you can use an icon to tell the user of an error.
3. Use Appropriate Text to Background Color Ratio
Background colors can affect the readability of information on a website. The text and background color can make the information camouflage and make it difficult for people with low vision to access information. To make a text readable, there should be a reasonable contrast ratio between the text and the background color.
4. Incorporate Focus Indicators
Focus indicators can help people who navigate your website using the keyboard. The indicators will highlight the user’s movement, ensuring they press on an icon, a feature, or a menu they intend to click. Focus indicators can incorporate a change of color or even slight movements of the icon on focus to help users navigate efficiently.
Learn More About Digital Accessibility at Applied Development LLC
At Applied Development LLC, we champion the rights of people with diverse abilities and advocate for inclusivity. We strive to make accessibility a norm in organizations and companies through our diversability services, such as sign language interpretation, CART services, reader services, advocacy, and outreach to help people communicate effectively.
Call us today at (410) 571-4016 or fill out the Contact Us form for more information about ADA compliance and reasonable accommodations.