How can you design for accessibility without sacrificing user-centered design?

This is a weird question. Users (humans) can have disabilities, so good human centered design IS accessible by definition. If we don't include all humans we can't very well call it human centered.

Accessibility and user-centric design share common goals, as both aim to enhance user experience. In fact, prioritizing accessibility often aligns with user-centric design principles, creating products that are intuitive, efficient, and accommodating to a broad audience. It's about designing with empathy to meet the needs of every user.

If a design isn't inclusive and accessible, can we really call it human-centered? (our users are humans) Why is this kind of article title even there? There's nothing we can possibly "sacrifice", so let's not make it optional because it's not! Inclusive and accessible design should be BAU. A truly human-centered design inherently includes addressing accessibility considerations, otherwise we are not practising HCD to begin with. If a product or service is not accessible, it fails to cater to the diverse needs and abilities of the people who use it, undermining the very essence of being "human-centered" Perhaps more appropriate title may be something along the lines of "Designing for all: accessibility as part of human-centered design."

AI is reaching new low with this article trying to position user-centered design and accessibility as opostites. And I also have to type more because there is a minimum limit of characters.

I feel that good, user-centric design should be designed for how truly varied humans and their lived experiences can be. So for a design to be truly user-centric it must be accessible. Otherwise it fails to truly be user-centric.

Accessibility is crucial in user-centered design because it ensures that products are usable by a diverse range of individuals, including those with disabilities. By prioritizing accessibility, we create inclusive designs that cater to various needs and enhance the overall user experience. This aligns with the core principle of user-centered design, which focuses on understanding and meeting the needs of all users throughout the design process. Accessibility ensures that our designs are not only user-friendly but also considerate of the diverse abilities and requirements of the entire user base, promoting inclusivity and usability.

Incorporating accessibility into user-centered design is about recognizing the diverse needs and preferences of all users. It's about empathy and understanding that what works for one user may not work for another. This approach leads to innovative designs that are not only inclusive but also more intuitive and user-friendly. By considering a wide range of abilities and experiences, designers can create solutions that are more versatile and adaptable, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience. It's a journey towards creating products that resonate with a broader audience, fostering a sense of belonging and appreciation in every interaction.

Digital accessibility is essential to enable people with disabilities to access and utilize digital technology and online content. Beyond providing equal access to information and opportunities, it also enhances product UX (User Experience) by addressing various user needs and improving overall usability.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around the world there are around 285 million people with visual impairment (approximately 39 million are blind and 246 million have low vision). This is a relevant segment of potential customers, who become loyal to brands that pay clear attention to them. And user-centered design strategies and techniques are the key to reaching and gaining the loyalty of this audience.

Accessibility is indeed fundamental to a truly human-centered design approach. Recognizing the diversity among people, including different cultures and various disabilities, is key to creating designs that truly cater to everyone. By prioritizing accessibility, we ensure that our designs are inclusive and can be accessed and used by people with diverse needs, making the overall design more genuinely user-centric.

Accessibility is not a "feature". Accessibility is a necessity and consideration of the same should always be a standard. There are various websites available online to do a litmus test for the same and also various organisations dedicated for accessibility testing who charge a nominal fee and provide a detailed report on how to improve. Developing a feature for apps should also be done based on data driven analysis to see the targeted audience and the actual user base. Accessibility consideration can also be as basic as contrast checks for colors, font legibility and responsiveness. Apps that are widely used i.e banking apps must have all necessary accessibility aspects.

Creating accessible products should be the default and not a consideration. Accessibility's role in user-centered design extends beyond compliance and ethics; it simply ensures broader usability. Features that make a product accessible, such as clear navigation or readable text, inherently improve the experience for all users, not just those with disabilities.

For accessible website design, a good start is to install free color blindness simulation plugins and test reading software. Asking people with disabilities to test your website is also a good practice.

Accessibility is a must. In B2B applications it can mean people do not have the right tools to do their job. This can result in a legal problem in the company, so companies won't use a non accessible product for their business applications. Colour blindness, colour sensitivity and eye drag can cause mistakes. Difficult to read text takes longer. It's good business sense to design with accessibility as standard. For financial information, tables going beyond to design for dyslexia and ensuring numbers, text and date formats are clear and consistant with style sheets for handling them. Companies need to invest in good design upfront as mistakes are expensive and expensive to fix.

Inclusive Research: Involve diverse users in research to understand their needs. Prioritize Universal Design: Design universally to accommodate various abilities from the start. Usability Testing with Diverse Users: Test designs with users of different abilities for real-world feedback. Clear Communication: Use clear, concise language and ensure content is easily understood. Navigation: Design straightforward navigation for easy user guidance. Device Flexibility: Ensure designs are adaptable to various devices and assistive technologies. Color and Contrast Considerations: Choose color combinations with sufficient contrast for readability. Accessible Forms and Controls: Design forms and interactive elements with accessibility in mind.

What type of question is this? The core of accessibility design is Human centric Design. They are not mutually exclusive but they compliment each other. Any form of disability in humans should be an inclusive factor of human centric interaction. After all, users are humans and accessibility is human centric. Whether we use color-blind centric colors or maintaining contrast in our design or making text and hyperlinks readable through screen readers are all inclusive human centered designs.

If you are in a position where you are feeling a pull between accessibility and user-centered design it is time to take a step back. Accessible design is user-centered. Without accessibility your product cannot be used by all users. Accessibility guidelines for the web (WCAG) make design better for all users. Accessibility is the first, and essential part, of achieving a user-centered design.

Actually this is about finding synergy rather than "balancing" which implies making compromises. It's crucial to view accessibility as an integral part of good design, not as a separate or conflicting aspect. Approach design with a mindset that values diversity and inclusivity by • adopting inclusive design principles from the start & • engaging with a diverse group of users during the research and testing phases.

Balancing Accessibility and User-Centered Design: Inclusive Research: Start with user research that includes diverse abilities. Design Universally: Prioritize features benefiting all users from the outset. Iterative Testing: Continuously test designs with users of varying abilities for refinement. Clear Communication: Use straightforward language and ensure content is universally understandable. Simplified Navigation: Create user-friendly navigation for ease of use. Device Adaptability: Design for flexibility across devices and assistive technologies. Considered Color and Contrast: Choose colors with adequate contrast for readability. Accessible Interactive Elements: Develop forms and controls with accessibility at the forefront.

In my experience balancing accessibility and user-centered design means creating products that cater to diverse user needs without compromising usability. It involves early consideration of accessibility, testing with various users, prioritizing essential functions for everyone, flexible design solutions, compliance with standards, ongoing improvements, and collaboration among teams for inclusive design.

Demonstrate the value of accessibility as an essential component of product quality and market reach. You can e.g. highlight case studies or examples where accessible design has led to increased user satisfaction and expanded audience. Speak the language of your stakeholders.

Highlight User Diversity: Emphasize the diverse user base and the need for inclusivity. Success Stories: Showcase instances where accessible design positively impacted user experience. Educate Teams: Conduct workshops to educate teams on the benefits of accessibility. Business Impact: Illustrate how accessible design aligns with business goals and user satisfaction. Integrate into Processes: Embed accessibility considerations into design and development processes. Demonstrate Legal Compliance: Stress the importance of meeting legal requirements for accessibility. Prioritize Usability: Emphasize that accessibility enhancements often improve overall usability.

Additionally, you can engage in discussions with experienced mentors who can provide real-world insights and share practical experiences in navigating the complexities of accessibility challenges. Also, I suggest to participate in UX communities, attend conferences, and join forums to connect with like-minded professionals. Remember, learning from both successes and failures, and having a supportive mentorship network, can significantly accelerate your growth as a UX designer committed to creating inclusive and user-centric experiences.

No matter if you are designing in 2D or 3D, the first essential reading material on this subject I always direct anyone to are “The Design of Everyday Things” by Donald A. Norman followed by “Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men” by Caroline Criado Perez. Norman is considered to be the founder of UX, and his book is a great primer on design with empathetic consideration for users. Criado Perez’s book is a heart-breaking rite-of-passage for designers who want to make sure they understand why they need to design inclusively. It contains thousands of data points which show how and why women and other marginalized people are inconvenienced, injured, or killed by poorly designed products because they lack inclusivity.

Accessibility is actually part of user-centred designs. In fact if you cater accessibility in your designs you compliment the user centricity more.

In the same way that Design Thinking shows us, the best starting point is to talk directly to people who are part of your target audience. Look for different profiles and, whenever possible, people with disabilities of different types and levels. It is from them that the best insights will come.

By engaging in inclusive design projects, doing volunteer works in the community, seeking feedback from users with diverse abilities we can get to know more about accessibility and user centric design

Why does accessibility and user-centered design need to be two separate things? The are actually one and the same. Think of a curb cut on the sidewalk, it was designed for the blind more easily understand where to walk. However for sighted people, it is a smoother transition and benefits them as well. You need to think of an accessible user as your user in a user-centered design. Doing so benefits everyone.

Being sure you are designing inclusively, for diverse groups of people with diverse needs and abilities, is the most important task whilst designing. As the founder of UX Donald A. Norman states in his book Design for Everyday Things, “Good design is actually a lot harder to notice than poor design, in part because good designs fit our needs so well that the design is invisible.” This should be your goal for every user's experience of your design, no matter who they are. Branding language, trend research, aesthetics, and UI / CMF are only one aspect of design. Your products are being designed for absolutely everyone, so include a step for inclusivity in your R&D to ensure that this is the case.