Inclusive by Design: Why Accessible Design is Good Design

Inclusive by Design: Why Accessible Design is Good Design

Ahmed Hive 31 January 2025 8 Comments
Ahmed Hive Product Designer UI UX Design Mobile App Designer Dashboard Design Figma Designer

Accessibility in design is not just about compliance; it’s about creating experiences that work for everyone. A well-designed product, website, or app should be usable by people of all abilities, including those with disabilities. When accessibility is prioritized, it enhances user experience, boosts engagement, and even improves SEO rankings.

But accessibility isn’t just for a niche audience—it benefits everyone. Whether it’s a person with a permanent disability, an elderly user with declining vision, or someone in a temporary situation (like a broken arm or bright sunlight on their phone screen), accessible design ensures that all users have a smooth and inclusive experience.

In this blog, we’ll explore why accessible design is good design, its benefits, and practical ways to implement it in UI/UX design.

Ahmed Hive Product Designer UI UX Design Mobile App Designer Dashboard Design Figma Designer

What is Accessible Design?

Accessible design refers to designing digital and physical products that are usable by people of all abilities, including those with:

Visual impairments (blindness, low vision, color blindness)
Hearing impairments (deafness, partial hearing loss)
Motor disabilities (difficulty using a mouse, limited mobility)
Cognitive disabilities (dyslexia, ADHD, memory challenges)

By focusing on accessibility, designers create products that are usable, inclusive, and intuitive for a broad audience.

 

Why Accessible Design is Good Design

1- Enhances User Experience (UX) for Everyone

Good design is about clarity and ease of use. Accessibility features like proper color contrast, clear fonts, and simple navigation make interfaces more user-friendly for all users—not just those with disabilities.

Example:
A website with high-contrast text is easier to read for visually impaired users and improves readability for everyone, especially in bright outdoor conditions.

2- Expands Audience & Market Reach

Over 1 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability. Making your website or app accessible increases your potential audience, ensuring that no one is excluded.

Example:
Adding voice search or keyboard navigation benefits people with motor impairments while also making the product useful for people multitasking.

3- Boosts SEO & Google Rankings

Search engines favor accessible websites because they prioritize readability and usability. Features like alt text for images, semantic HTML, and clear structure improve SEO and help your content rank higher.

4- Ensures Legal Compliance & Avoids Penalties

Many countries have legal requirements for digital accessibility, such as:

– Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)

– Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

– European Accessibility Act (EAA)

Failing to comply can lead to lawsuits, fines, and reputation damage. Brands like Domino’s and Target have faced legal action for poor accessibility.

5- Builds a Positive Brand Image

A company that prioritizes accessibility is seen as ethical, inclusive, and forward-thinking. Investing in accessibility shows that you care about all users, strengthening brand loyalty and trust.

Best Practices for Accessible Design

1- Use High-Contrast Colors

– Ensure text and background colors have at least a 4.5:1 contrast ratio.

– Avoid color combinations that are hard to distinguish (e.g., red-green).

2- Choose Readable Fonts & Scalable Text

– Use sans-serif fonts (e.g., Arial, Roboto, Open Sans) for better readability.

– Allow users to adjust text size without breaking layout.

3- Provide Alt Text for Images

– Use descriptive alt text for images so screen readers can describe them.

– Mark decorative images as “alt=”” to avoid cluttering screen reader content.

4- Ensure Keyboard Navigation

– All interactive elements (buttons, forms, menus) should be navigable via the keyboard (Tab, Enter, Space).

– Use focus indicators so users can see where they are on the page.

5. Offer Captions & Transcripts for Multimedia

– Provide closed captions for videos and transcripts for podcasts.

– Use ARIA labels to describe interactive media content.

6- Use Clear & Concise Language

– Avoid jargon and complex sentences.

– Provide text alternatives for non-text content (e.g., charts, graphs).

7- Design Responsive & Mobile-Friendly Interfaces

– Ensure your website or app is fully usable on mobile devices, tablets, and desktops.

– Use responsive typography and touch-friendly buttons.

 

Conclusion

Accessibility is not an afterthought—it’s a core part of good design. An accessible product enhances user experience, reaches a wider audience, improves SEO, and aligns with legal requirements. By designing inclusively, we create experiences that are usable by all, not just a few.

Whether you’re designing a website, mobile app, or digital product, remember: Accessible design is good design.

Ahmed Hive

Experienced Freelance Product UI/UX Designer with six years, specializing in innovative designs for startups and multimillion-dollar companies.

8 Comments

  • Daniel Roberts

    This article perfectly captures why accessibility should be a priority, not an afterthought! 🌍 Great insights!

  • Sophia Mitchell

    Inclusive design benefits everyone, not just those with disabilities. Loved the practical tips!

  • Mark Evans

    Really well explained! Accessibility = better UX for all. More brands need to realize this. 💡”

  • Olivia Carter

    SEO boost, legal compliance, and a wider audience? No excuses for ignoring accessibility! 🔥

  • Ryan Taylor

    I never thought about how accessibility also helps people in temporary situations. Eye-opening!

  • Emma Brooks

    Great breakdown of best practices! High contrast and clear fonts make such a difference.

  • James Parker

    So true! Accessible design isn’t just ethical—it’s smart business. More reach = more impact. 💯

  • Lisa Thompson

    More designers need to read this! Accessibility makes the web better for everyone.

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