Digital Accessibility: From Theory to Practice

How to design truly inclusive and accessible digital products from the perspective and experience of two product designers.

In the Runroom LAB, "Digital Accessibility: From Theory to Practice," Ileana Raijelson, Product Designer, and Pilar Gobbi, UX/UI Designer specializing in Accessibility, share their experience creating accessible products, from the benefits, areas of application, and technical considerations of digital accessibility.

Key Learnings (Practical Lessons)

1. Accessibility as a necessity, not an option

• Inclusion for all: Digital accessibility is not a niche feature, but a fundamental necessity to ensure that all people (including those with visual, auditory, cognitive, or motor disabilities, as well as users with situational or technological limitations) can use, perceive, and understand digital products.
• Real problems: a high percentage of people (close to 90%, according to related studies) have abandoned digital procedures or interactions due to accessibility issues.
• Legal and reputational relevance: There is increasingly strict legislation on accessibility. Non-compliance with standards (such as WCAG) can lead to legal sanctions, fines, and loss of customers.

2. Benefits beyond disability

• Improvement of User Experience (UX): Accessible design benefits everyone. For example, high contrasts help people with low vision, but also anyone using their mobile under sunlight. Clear navigation and semantic code improve the overall user experience.
• Improvement in SEO: Proper use of tags (such as alt text in images, well-structured titles, and clear language) not only helps people with screen readers but also improves web indexing and search engine positioning (SEO).

3. Practical steps in design and development

• Design from the start (Research): Accessibility should be considered from the research and design phase, not as a patch at the end. It is crucial to research the needs of different users so that the product is inclusive from its conception.
• Basic elements to consider:
• • Contrast and Color: Ensure that color combinations have sufficient contrast to be readable.
  • Alternative Texts (Alt text): Include descriptive texts for all images, photos, and icons, or mark them as decorative if they do not add value to the content.
  • Keyboard Handling: Ensure that all functionalities are operable using only the keyboard, without the need for a mouse.
  • Semantic Structure: Correctly use headings (h1, h2, etc.) so that screen readers can navigate the content structure.

General Conclusions

1. Change of Mindset: Digital accessibility should no longer be seen as a burden or a legal requirement and should be adopted as a fundamental value and a competitive advantage. It is also a reflection of a company's values.
2. Shared Responsibility: Accessibility is not the exclusive task of the development team; it requires the awareness and collaboration of designers (UX/UI), developers, content creators, and product managers.
3. Continuous Improvement: The digital ecosystem is constantly changing. Accessibility is an ongoing process that requires constant verification and adaptation to new technologies and regulations, using testing tools and actively listening to users.