Mistaek Design Studio’s Post

Dear Designers, It's a regular day, and I'm scrolling through my LinkedIn feed, just like any other day. Then, something catches my eye – Daniel Aitanun post pops up, posing a simple yet thought-provoking question: "Is accessibility overrated?" Now, most designers might give a quick "no" in response, but I couldn't shake off the question. It got me thinking about the deeper meaning behind accessibility in design, particularly the role of empathy. You see, accessibility isn't just about ticking boxes or meeting regulations. It's about truly understanding and empathizing with our users. It's about recognizing that every single person deserves equal access to the products and experiences we create. But here's the thing – I've noticed a trend. Sometimes, designers get so caught up in perfecting the aesthetics or functionality of a product that they forget about accessibility. They forget that accessibility is the cornerstone of inclusivity. And when we overlook accessibility, we're essentially closing the door on a whole community of users who deserve to be heard and catered to. That's not okay. So let's shift our perspective. Let's stop seeing accessibility as just another item on our checklist. Instead, let's view it as an incredible opportunity to make a real difference in user's lives. Let's design with empathy, with inclusivity at the forefront of our minds. 🌟 #AccessibilityMatters #DesignWithEmpathy #uxdesign

Inclusive Design vs. Accessibility 🌟 Excited to share a little insight today: Inclusive Design vs. Accessibility. 🌟 🔍 While they're closely related, it's important to understand that they're not the same thing. Let's break it down: 🌐 Inclusive Design: Imagine a smartphone with text that's resizable, icons that are easy to distinguish, and a user interface that's intuitive for people of all ages and abilities. That's inclusive design! It's about creating products and experiences that cater to the widest possible range of users, without the need for special adaptations. 🔓 Accessibility: Now, think of a website with captions for videos, alt text for images, and keyboard navigation for those who can't use a mouse. That's accessibility! It's about removing barriers so that people with disabilities can access and interact with digital content and services. 💡 Example: Let's say you're designing a website. Inclusive design means considering the needs of all users, including those with disabilities, from the outset. Accessibility, on the other hand, involves implementing specific features like screen reader compatibility or colour contrast adjustments to ensure that everyone can navigate and use the site effectively. ✨ By understanding the distinction between inclusive design and accessibility, we can create more inclusive and accessible products and experiences for everyone. Let's strive for designs that welcome all users with open arms! 💫 #InclusiveDesign #Accessibility #DiversityandInclusion #DesignThinking #uxdesign #uiux

Designing for Accessibility: A Digital Product Designer’s Guide #design #rswebsols Designing for accessibility is not just a legal requirement or a moral obligation. It’s an opportunity to create better experiences for everyone. In this article, we will discuss some key principles and best practices for designing accessible digital products. The ultimate goal of digital product designers is to create products that are not only visually appealing but also user-friendly and accessible to all. In today’s increasingly connected world, it is more important than ever to ensure that our designs cater ... Continue reading »

Is Your Design Truly Inclusive? 🙋 Accessibility isn’t a feature; it’s a mindset. Whether it’s creating keyboard-friendly designs or testing with real users, every step counts. 🎨 Curious about how to make your designs inclusive and impactful? Our blog is your ultimate guide to accessibility research. 🔗 Click here to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gGvF-Zri Let’s build a more inclusive web—one design at a time! Who’s in? 🙌 #InclusiveWeb #UXDesigners #AccessibilityFirst #UXResearchJourney #DigitalInclusion

Designing for Accessibility and Inclusivity | Empowering All Users Did you know that accessible design isn’t just for people with disabilities—it benefits everyone? By incorporating inclusive design principles, we create digital experiences that are: ✔️ Empowering people with disabilities through features like alt text, keyboard navigation, and closed captions. ✔️ User-friendly for all—think high-contrast designs or captions that help users in noisy environments. ✔️ SEO-friendly, improving discoverability and engagement by catering to diverse audiences. In our latest article, we explore actionable insights on why accessibility matters, how to build more inclusive products, and the steps to make your designs truly universal. It’s time to design for connection, usability, and impact. Let’s build a world where digital experiences work for everyone—one design at a time. Dive into the full article here and join the conversation! https://lnkd.in/eqyi2kyU Let’s keep the conversation going—how are you implementing accessibility in your designs? #InclusiveDesign #AccessibilityMatters #DesignForAll #UserExperience #DigitalInclusion #AccessibilityInTech #UXDesign #EmpoweringUsers #DesignThinking #UniversalDesign

Last week's recap at BRIDGEGOOD highlights designing for accessibility. Amber J. presented on Accessibility in Design where we gained insight on how to design for accessibility. I loved this presentation as it provided me with information on how to make design accessible. I've always recognized the importance of universal design as you want everyone to feel included regardless of disability. Still, I wasn’t aware of the tools needed to make digital design accessible to all. Examples of ways to incorporate methods for digital accessibility are having screen readers, keyboard shortcuts, captions, screen magnifiers, color contrast, and more. One of the exercises was strictly using the keyboard to navigate how to add an item to your shopping cart. It was challenging not being able to use my touchpad and having to use navigation keys. This was an eye-opener as I didn’t recognize the extra steps that users with disabilities have to take when using the web. The following day, we had part 2 of the presentation and ended with an activity. This activity included redesigning BRIDGEGOOD’s Inspire Oakland web page for a neurodivergent user. As a team, we had to figure out how to redesign the page using the text below 18pt font, have a background & text color contrast ratio of 4.5 to 1, adjust reading levels, and more. We used tools such as Figma, Hemingway Editor, and WebAIM. This was memorable as this was my first time designing for accessibility. I’m excited to apply these tools to future projects.

🌟 Designing for Everyone: The Importance of Accessibility 🌟 In today's diverse world, creating inclusive and accessible designs is more crucial than ever. As we build products, websites, and spaces, we must prioritize accessibility to ensure that everyone, regardless of ability, can engage with and benefit from our work. Accessibility isn't just about compliance with standards—it's about empathy and innovation. By designing with accessibility in mind, we open doors to a broader audience and empower people with various needs to fully participate in the digital and physical world. This approach not only enhances user experience but also drives creativity and excellence. Here are a few key reasons why accessibility should be at the forefront of our design process: 1. Broader Reach: Accessible design allows us to connect with a more extensive audience, including those with disabilities. This inclusivity can translate into increased user engagement and satisfaction. 2. Legal and Ethical Responsibility: Many countries have legal requirements for accessibility, and meeting these standards is both a legal obligation and a moral imperative. 3. Enhanced Usability: Accessible designs often result in a better user experience for everyone. Features like clear navigation, readable text, and adaptable layouts benefit users across the board. 4. Innovation Catalyst: Addressing accessibility challenges can lead to innovative solutions and design improvements that might not have been considered otherwise. Let's champion a future where everyone can interact with and enjoy our creations without barriers. By integrating accessibility into our design thinking, we not only foster inclusivity but also drive meaningful progress and innovation. Join me in making accessibility a core component of our design strategy. Together, we can build a more inclusive world! 🌍 #Accessibility #InclusiveDesign #Innovation #UserExperience #EmpathyInDesign #DigitalInclusion

Why are we so terrible at asking the right questions of the right people? One thing I've noticed since officially moving into the user-centred, accessibility and inclusive design space* is that we spend a lot of time trying to work out human behaviour. If you're in a good company, then you'll know we prioritise asking questions to find out. Even if it's an audience we know, or have worked with before. Because the same person can act differently in different circumstances or when presented with different information. *(Fun fact I've actually been working within UX and inclusive design for my whole career I just didn't have the language for it until quite recently.) In accessibility, there's a tendency to reduce a whole group of people to their impairment. The danger of never engaging with a number of individuals with disabilities and impairments, is that you can easily end up with the "All blind people read braille" or "Screenreaders are only for X type of person" assumptions. These are always wrong, because newsflash: - Katy Perry uses magnification on her phone now. That's accessible design. - Ever dictated something into your smartphone because you're on the move? That's accessible design. - Watched a video using captions because you don't want to interrupt the great song you've got playing already? Accessible design. - Developed an injury in your hand so learned how to use your laptop without a mouse to reduce the strain on it? Accessible design. You get the idea. There's no way of finding out these insights without asking real people how they navigate certain digital situations. Don't get me wrong, the standards help keep us to account, and have some really smart people constantly working to make them as inclusive as possible, but just the standards won't build you an experience that your users love and keep coming back to. So when you're designing something for real people, think about the task that they want to achieve, and then ask those real people questions about it. Go beyond the standards. Get out of your assumptions. Because no matter what you're building, the users are always real, unique, messy and individual human beings. Not standards.

Want to create designs that everyone can enjoy? Let’s talk inclusive design! It’s not just a requirement; it’s a mindset that ensures your app or website is usable for all, regardless of ability. Here's a key tip: Design with Inclusivity in Mind from the Start! Don't wait until the final stages to think about accessibility. Instead, integrate inclusive practices throughout your design process. Consider how users with visual impairments, motor limitations, or cognitive challenges will interact with your interface from day one. Here’s how to make your design more inclusive: Color Choices Matter: Ensure text is readable by selecting high-contrast color combinations. Tools like contrast checkers can be your best friend! Intuitive Navigation: Make sure your layout is simple and straightforward. Clear navigation benefits all users and is essential for those with cognitive or learning disabilities. Alternative Text: Provide descriptive alt text for images so that screen readers can convey important visual information to users with visual impairments. Pro Tip: Inclusivity goes beyond just ticking off accessibility checkboxes. It’s about empathy, flexibility, and making every user feel valued in their experience.

Accessibility is not just a 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲-to-have; it's a 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁-have!    Linda Klaver, our UX Designer, has dedicated the past two years to making the digital world safer and more accessible. In her blog post she explains:      ♿ 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Inclusive design is essential. It ensures everyone can engage with digital content, regardless of their abilities. 👩⚖️ 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Web accessibility is mandated by laws like the ADA and the EU's Web Accessibility Directive. Non-compliance can lead to legal issues and hurt your brand’s reputation. ✅ 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Nixon Platform scans your portfolio for accessibility issues, providing scores to help you take immediate action and ensure compliance.     Read the full blog to learn more!  ↪ https://lnkd.in/ekhZqPtn #NixonDigital #AccessibleDesign #UX