How can you design for accessibility and increase user loyalty?

1 What is accessibility?

Accessibility means that your product or service can be used by people with different abilities, needs, and preferences, without creating barriers or discrimination. Accessibility covers aspects such as visual, auditory, cognitive, physical, and emotional accessibility, as well as cultural and linguistic diversity. Accessibility is not only about complying with standards and guidelines, but also about understanding your users and their contexts.

2 Why is accessibility important for sustainable design?

Sustainable design is about creating solutions that are environmentally, socially, and economically responsible. Accessibility is a key component of social sustainability, as it promotes equity, diversity, and human rights. By designing for accessibility, you can reach a wider and more diverse audience, reduce the risk of legal issues and negative feedback, and enhance your reputation and credibility. Moreover, accessibility can also benefit the environment and the economy, by reducing waste, energy consumption, and costs.

3 How to design for accessibility?

Designing for accessibility requires a user-centered approach, where you involve your users throughout the design process, from research to testing. You can use various methods and tools to understand your users' needs, preferences, and challenges, such as personas, scenarios, interviews, surveys, and usability testing. You can also use accessibility checklists, standards, and guidelines, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), to evaluate and improve your design.

4 How to test for accessibility?

Testing for accessibility is essential to ensure that your product or service works well for all your users, regardless of their abilities, devices, or environments. You can test for accessibility using both automated and manual methods, such as accessibility audit tools, screen readers, keyboard navigation, color contrast analyzers, and zoom functions. However, the best way to test for accessibility is to involve real users with different abilities and backgrounds, and observe how they interact with your product or service.

6 How to foster user loyalty?

User loyalty is the result of a positive and consistent user experience, where your users feel valued, satisfied, and engaged. Designing for accessibility can help you foster user loyalty by meeting your users' needs and expectations, providing them with choice and control, and creating an emotional connection. You can also increase user loyalty by providing ongoing support, updates, and incentives, and by building a community of users who share your values and vision.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?