How can you make your computer graphics design accessible to everyone?

1 Why accessibility matters

Accessibility is not only a legal requirement, but also a moral and ethical responsibility for computer graphics designers. By making your design accessible, you can reach a wider and more diverse audience, improve your reputation and credibility, and enhance the user experience and satisfaction of your clients and customers. Accessibility also benefits your own design process, as it helps you to focus on the essential elements, simplify the layout, and optimize the performance of your graphics.

2 How to test your design for accessibility

One of the first steps to make your design accessible is to test it for accessibility issues and errors. There are many tools and resources that can help you with this, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which provide a set of standards and criteria for web-based design. You can also use online checkers, such as WAVE or AChecker, to scan your design for accessibility problems and get suggestions on how to fix them. Additionally, you can use screen readers, such as NVDA or JAWS, to simulate how your design sounds and feels for people who use them.

4 How to use fonts and text

Fonts and text are another essential element of computer graphics design, as they can deliver messages, instructions, and stories. However, they can also create barriers for accessibility, especially for people who have dyslexia, reading difficulties, or low literacy. To make your design accessible, you should use fonts and text that are clear, readable, and consistent, and avoid using decorative, cursive, or all-caps fonts that can be hard to decipher. You should also use a sufficient font size, spacing, and alignment, and provide alternative text or captions for images, icons, or graphs.

5 How to use animations and interactions

Animations and interactions are useful features of computer graphics design, as they can attract attention, create engagement, and provide feedback. However, they can also cause issues for accessibility, especially for people who have seizures, motion sickness, or cognitive impairments. To make your design accessible, you should use animations and interactions that are subtle, purposeful, and controllable, and avoid using flashing, flickering, or moving elements that can trigger seizures or nausea. You should also provide options to pause, stop, or skip animations and interactions, and use clear and intuitive cues and indicators for navigation and interaction.

6 How to learn more about accessibility

Accessibility is a complex and ever-evolving topic, and there is always more to learn and improve. If you want to gain a deeper understanding of accessibility and how to make your computer graphics design accessible to all, you can explore resources such as The A11Y Project, a community-driven initiative that provides articles, guides, and tools on web accessibility; the Accessible Design course by Skillshare which teaches the basics and benefits of accessible design; Inclusive Design, a book by Kat Holmes that explores the principles and practices of inclusive design; and the Designing for Accessibility podcast by AIGA which features interviews and insights from experts and advocates of accessibility.

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?