How to Handle Designer Bias When Designing for Accessibility

Summary:

Understanding user needs and wants is crucial in the design process, especially when designing for accessibility. It is important to avoid guessing at user needs or relying solely on personal experiences, as this can lead to biased design decisions. Instead, conducting user research with the relevant user group is the best way to gain an understanding of their needs. However, if research is not possible, designers should be aware of common biases and follow important guidelines for creating accessible web designs.

Key Points:

• Visual bias is a common designer bias that can hinder accessibility design. It is difficult to fully understand the interaction possibilities for someone using a screen reader when relying solely on visual layouts. Being aware of this bias is crucial.
• Designing with a lot of point and click interaction can make designs difficult for some users. It is important to consider alternative interaction methods and ensure accessibility for all users.
• Approximately 10% of all males are color-blind, so designers should be aware of color choices when creating accessible designs.
• Guidelines for creating accessible webpages include:
  • Defining typography with accessibility in mind
  • Using high contrast for improved readability
  • Ensuring high link visibility and large target size for clickable elements
  • Placing labels close to the elements they relate to
  • Creating consistent and predictable navigation
  • Using visual focus indicators
  • Clearly separating blocks of content

References and Where to Learn More:

• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
• Hero Image: Copyright holder - Florian Voggeneder, License - CC BY-NC-ND 2.0