Your UX team is overwhelmed with deadlines and aesthetics. How do you ensure they prioritize accessibility?

To ensure accessibility remains a priority, especially when your UX team is overwhelmed, it’s crucial to make it an integral part of the process. Start by embedding accessibility checks into your project timelines, so it's not an afterthought. Provide ongoing training on accessibility standards like WCAG, ensuring everyone is aligned. Most importantly, involve real users with disabilities during the design review stage for practical, valuable feedback. This proactive approach helps balance aesthetics and deadlines while maintaining inclusivity.

Getting project discovery right is often the most crucial aspect of the entire process, there would be possible instances of tradeoffs between aesthetic and accessibility and that's okay. With regular check-in, make sure the stakeholders are aligned to the timeline and key priorities of the project.

To ensure UX team prioritizes accessibility amidst deadlines and aesthetics, I embed accessibility into the design process from the start. We establish accessibility as a core design principle, making it part of the criteria for every project. Regular training and workshops keep the team updated on best practices. We use tools like contrast checkers and screen readers to test designs early, ensuring compliance with WCAG guidelines. Involving users with disabilities in testing provides real-world insights. By integrating accessibility into our workflow, it becomes a natural part of the creative process, reducing the need for later revisions.

To ensure your UX team prioritises accessibility, integrate it into the design process from the start by setting clear accessibility goals for each project. Provide training on accessibility standards and emphasise its importance alongside aesthetics. Regularly review designs for accessibility compliance and incorporate user testing with diverse groups to reinforce its priority.

To ensure accessibility is prioritized in a busy UX team, make it part of the design process from the start by setting clear guidelines and automating accessibility checks. Assign specific tasks related to accessibility, include it in the project’s definition of done, and emphasize its benefits for all users. Providing training, leveraging user feedback, and incorporating accessibility into the design culture can help balance it with aesthetics and tight deadlines.