Accessibility in graphic design
Accessible graphic design means creating visual content that can be used and enjoyed by as many people as possible, irrespective of their abilities and limitations. It’s about creating graphic design elements to ensure printed documents and web content can be navigated and understood by the largest number of users possible, so that everyone feels valued and included.
Accessibility in design is something we are always mindful of at Ingenious and some of our clients, such as government, authorities and charities have stringent requirements when it comes to accessibility so that all their communications are fully accessible to people with low vision, motor disabilities, dyslexia, those who are deaf and hard of hearing, or who use screen readers and users on the autistic spectrum.
Requirements include adoption of high contrast colour combinations with sufficient contrast between foreground and background; bold, legible fonts and typography; logical, clear and consistent layouts using appropriate spacing, headings, sub-headings and bullet points to group related content and make it easier to understand.
Although these design principles are universal, best practice ensures visual material is accessible to all including users in the groups described above. The UK Government has issued a series of useful posters which list dos and don’ts tailored to users in each group. The guidance avoids being overly prescriptive and, in some cases, can be contradictory, for example, bright contrast is advised for those with low vision but is not so good for some users on the autistic spectrum. It is therefore a matter of finding the right balance.
International standards have been introduced to help with this, for example Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Accessibility checkers can be used while working to ensure compliance with these guidelines.
An example of our work which needed to meet strict accessibility guidelines is the River Thames Scheme Public Consultation materials we designed for Surrey County Council. Once documents had been created, we used Adobe Acrobat accessibility checker to flag up where headings, images, tables and other graphic elements needed labelling. These were then physically tagged so they could be interpreted by all users. Once submitted, materials then had to pass a final council system accessibility check before being released.
In light of this, we have put together a list of our top tips for designing accessible graphics:
Layout and typography
Use clear, linear layouts with headings, paragraphs, bullet points and appropriate spacing. Choose legible font types and sizes so everyone can read text easily.
Colour contrast
Colour is one of the most important factors in creating graphics. Designs should incorporate contrasting colours and accessible colour palettes to ensure text and images are distinct. For example, dark text on pale, plain background in accordance with standards for minimum colour contrast ratios.
Navigation
Navigation is key. Designers need to make sure all users can navigate websites and documents. Simplicity and clarity are essential in grouping related material together using relevant headings, descriptive labels, pagination, content tables and clear visual indicators on all buttons.
Keyboard commands
Most users use a mouse for navigation, but some use a keyboard so it is important to ensure all functions done by a mouse can also be carried out with keyboard commands.
Alternative text
Include significant alternative text to describe images and graphics. Concise and accurate descriptions are essential to interpret visuals and their purpose when they can’t be viewed for any reason.
Accessibility tests
Try out designs using a screen reader and other assistive technologies, together with WCAG testing to check compliance with accessibility standards and guidelines. And bear in mind with such a wide variety of devices, it is also important to check that material is well presented and easily understood on any type of screen, irrespective of size and type.
At Ingenious, we understand the importance of accessible design in making visual elements accessible to everyone, enabling all users to perceive, understand, navigate and interact with content effectively. When visual content is effective, satisfying and understandable to the widest variety of people it becomes accessible. Accessibility therefore focuses on usability, but we also believe this does not have to be at the expense of visual appeal.