This section covers the different design considerations we should be making in order to have an accessible website. As UX / Web designers, it is important to keep these considerations in mind, because you will otherwise be restricting your audience.
Universal Usability
● “Universal design describes a set of considerations made to ensure that a
product / service & / or environment is usable by everyone, to the greatest
extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialised design”
● Understands individual differences
○ One design doesn’t fit all
● Reveals incorrect assumptions that designers might have about particular user
groups & what they need
○ Not all design assumptions (e.g. old people need large text) are true
● Think about your audience demographics, culture etc
Universal design
● Designing buildings, products & environments in ways that they’re accessible to all
people
○ Regardless of age, gender, race, etc
Purpose of universal design
● Extend standard design principles
● Include people of all ages & abilities
● Remains at the level of generality
○ Don't focus on one specific profile (it is not the same as accessible design -
has to work for as many people as possible)
● Not address all the specific needs of any particular disability
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, Universal Design Principles
The 7 principles
● Developed in 1997 by a working group of architects, product designers, engineers &
environmental design researchers in the North Carolina State University
● “Universal design describes a set of considerations made to ensure that a
product / service & / or environment is usable by everyone, to the greatest
extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialised design”
● The principles:
○ Equitable use
○ Flexibility in use
○ Simple & intuitive use
○ Perceptible information
○ Tolerance for error
○ Low physical effort
○ Size & space for approach & use
Equitable use
● Products should be equally helpful & usable to people of diverse abilities
● Provide the same means of use for all users
○ Identical whenever possible; equivalent when not
● For example:
○ An automatic door is equally helpful to a wheelchair user as it is to someone
who has their hands completely full
Flexibility in use
● The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences & abilities
● How:
○ Provide choice in methods of use
○ Accommodate right / left handed access & use
○ Provide adaptability to the user’s pace
● For example:
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