Accessibility in Design Systems (english) #WorkingProducts

We all are only sometimes abled. Therefore accessible solutions benefit everybody. Treating accessibility not just as an afterthought to comply with regulations, but as an essential UX factor right from the start can lead to building better products and services.

This talk is about how to lay an accessible foundation within a design system to enable accessibility. It also covers what to start with, which aspects to take care of and the toolbox needed, using tangible examples (and cool graphics) to generate an instant understanding.

#Accessibility #A11y #Design System #Design Systems #UX #User Experience #UI #User Interface Design #SituationalDisabilities #CurbCut-Effect #Artificial Intelligence #AI

Transcript

1.   ACCESSIBILITY IN DESIGN SYSTEMS  WORKING PRODUCTS APRIL 24. 2024 @BENNOLOEWENBERG
2. “We’re all just temporarily abled.” Source: Cindy Li @BennoLoewenberg
3. Source: Burnsitoun Comedy Show – “Eleven” Scottish Elevator @BennoLoewenberg   No buttons ?    Only voice      recognition !    That doesn’t work     with scottish accent ! 
4. @BennoLoewenberg “Disabilities are a mismatch between one’s ability and one’s environment.” Source: unknown
5. We use a Persona Spectrum to understand related limitations across a spectrum of permanent, temporary, and situational disabilities. It’s a quick tool to help foster empathy and to show how a solution can scale to a broader audience. Support Card | The Persona Spectrum Permanent Temporary Situational Touch en temporary or situational. ck which limitations apply to e Can’t speak r Can’t touch @BennoLoewenberg Source: Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit Aye ! Deaf Ear infection Bartender Speak Non-verbal Laryngitis Heavy accent
6. Can’t see Can’t speak Can’t hear Can’t touch Blind Cataract Distracted driver Hear Deaf Ear infection Bartender Speak Non-verbal Laryngitis Heavy accent We use a Persona Spectrum to understand related limitations across a spectrum of permanent, temporary, and situational disabilities. It’s a quick tool to help foster empathy and to show how a solution can scale to a broader audience. Support Card | The Persona Spectrum Permanent Temporary Situational Touch @BennoLoewenberg Source: Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit
7. One arm Arm injury New parent See Blind Cataract Distracted driver Hear Deaf Ear infection Bartender Disabilities are often temporary or situational. Use this card to pick which limitations apply to your scenario. Can’t see Can’t speak Can’t hear Can’t touch We use a Persona Spectrum to understand related limitations across a spectrum of permanent, temporary, and situational disabilities. It’s a quick tool to help foster empathy and to show how a solution can scale to a broader audience. Support Card | The Persona Spectrum Permanent Temporary Situational Touch @BennoLoewenberg Source: Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit traffic observant
8. e Can’t speak r Can’t touch show how a solution can scale to a broader audience. Permanent Temporary Situational Touch One arm Arm injury New parent See Blind Cataract Distracted driver We use a Persona Spectrum to understand related limitations across a spectrum of permanent, temporary, and situational disabilities. It’s a quick tool to help foster empathy and to show how a solution can scale to a broader audience. Support Card | The Persona Spectrum Permanent Temporary Situational Touch Source: Microsoft Inclusive Design Toolkit @BennoLoewenberg
9. “Approach accessibility as a customer experience imperative, not a compliance-driven initiave.” Source: Gina Bhalwalkar @BennoLoewenberg
10. Source: Deque / Anna Cook @BennoLoewenberg Design system accessibility has significant impacts
11. inaccessible eCommerce retailers loose out on — 6.9 billion US$ annually in the US Source: Deque / Home Depot @BennoLoewenberg
12.   KEY DRIVER AND BENEFIT  — | A11y increases market share — | aligns digital with brand promise — | reduces complaints & support costs Source: Forrester @BennoLoewenberg
13. Alps, Alta, Anatomy, Anvil, Archipelago, Argon, Apex, Asphalt, Astro, Aurora, Axiom, Backpack, Barista, Base, Binary, Bits, Blocks, Bloom, Bluemix, Blueprint, Boundless, Build, Bouy, Bolt, Canvas, Carbon, Cargo, Cedar Chameleon, Chrome, Cirrus, Clarity, Clay, Comet, Connect, Constellation Cosmos, DressCode, Duet, Edison, Eos, Epoxy, Evergreen, Fabric, Feather Feelix, Fiori, Fish Tank, Flame, Fleet, Float, Fluent, Foundation, Forma Frontier, Fuse, Fusion, Garden, Gel, Gestalt, Glu, Glue, Gravity, Grommet Group, Harmony, Hawkins, Helix, Honeycomb, Horizon, Indigo, Janus, Keirin Klik, Kompas, Kotti, Kyper, Latitude, Leonardo, Lexicon, Lightning, Lion Liquid, Luci, Luna, Material, Mayflower, Mercury, Miui, Mind, Mineral Minutiae, Mixtape, Momentum, Mosaic, Muesli, Nachos, Neo, Nicollet Northstar, Nova, Odyssey, One, Oneui, Opattern, Orbit, Origami, Otkit, Oxide Pajamas, Paste, Patternfly, Photon, Plasma, Polaris, Polestar, Poncho Precise, Predix, Primer, Protocol, Pulse, Purple, Quantum, Quartz, Quik Radius, Ratio, Recess, Rimble, Ring, Rivet, Rizzo, Sandcastle, Saphir, Scooter Seeds, Skin, Skyline, ShowCar, Snacks, Solar, Solid, SolidWork, Spark Spectrum, Stacks, Starling, Sticky, Stitch, Swarm, SynNeo, Tack, Tape Terra, ThingWorx, Thumbprint, Unicycle, Uniform, Unison Unity, Ustyle, Vanilla, Wonderblocks, X Yarn, Yoga, Zui   DESIGN SYSTEMS  @BennoLoewenberg
14. Alps, Alta, Anatomy, Anvil, Archipelago, Argon, Apex, Asphalt, Astro, Aurora, Axiom, Backpack, Barista, Base, Binary, Bits, Blocks, Bloom, Bluemix, Blueprint, Boundless, Build, Bouy, Bolt, Canvas, Carbon, Cargo, Cedar Chameleon, Chrome, Cirrus, Clarity, Clay, Comet, Connect, Constellation Cosmos, DressCode, Duet, Edison, Eos, Epoxy, Evergreen, Fabric, Feather Feelix, Fiori, Fish Tank, Flame, Fleet, Float, Fluent, Foundation, Forma Frontier, Fuse, Fusion, Garden, Gel, Gestalt, Glu, Glue, Gravity, Grommet Group, Harmony, Hawkins, Helix, Honeycomb, Horizon, Indigo, Janus, Keirin Klik, Kompas, Kotti, Kyper, Latitude, Leonardo, Lexicon, Lightning, Lion Liquid, Luci, Luna, Material, Mayflower, Mercury, Miui, Mind, Mineral Minutiae, Mixtape, Momentum, Mosaic, Muesli, Nachos, Neo, Nicollet Northstar, Nova, Odyssey, One, Oneui, Opattern, Orbit, Origami, Otkit, Oxide Pajamas, Paste, Patternfly, Photon, Plasma, Polaris, Polestar, Poncho Precise, Predix, Primer, Protocol, Pulse, Purple, Quantum, Quartz, Quik Radius, Ratio, Recess, Rimble, Ring, Rivet, Rizzo, Sandcastle, Saphir, Scooter Seeds, Skin, Skyline, ShowCar, Snacks, Solar, Solid, SolidWork, Spark Spectrum, Stacks, Starling, Sticky, Stitch, Swarm, SynNeo, Tack, Tape Terra, ThingWorx, Thumbprint, Unicycle, Uniform, Unison Unity, Ustyle, Vanilla, Wonderblocks, X Yarn, Yoga, Zui   DESIGN SYSTEMS  @BennoLoewenberg Accessibility in
15. “Limited access = broken experience. Accessilibity is the first step to a great user experience.” Source: Beatrriz Gonzalez @BennoLoewenberg
16. Source: W3C WAI Web Accessibility Perspectives – Colors with Good Contrast   e. g. WHEN CONTRAST COUNTS  @BennoLoewenberg
17. Source: W3C WAI Web Accessibility Perspectives – Keyboard Compatibility   e. g. WHEN A MOUSE CAN’T BE USED  @BennoLoewenberg
18. “Auditing your design system for accessibility is about UX just as much as it is about UI” Sources: Anma Cook @BennoLoewenberg
19. @BennoLoewenberg Building block or built-in blocker ?
20. @BennoLoewenberg The users are NOT disabled, (design) systems are disabling them
21. @BennoLoewenberg The curb-cut effect is beneficial for all Parents with strollers, Elderly, Cyclists, Delivery workers with push carts, Tourists with heavy luggage, …
22. “You can have antiquated systems, but if you have an accessible interface, it can completely transform that experience” Source. Rachel Haot @BennoLoewenberg
23. @BennoLoewenberg Implementing accessibility measures with curb-cut effect
24. @BennoLoewenberg Cross-device scalability Typography BUS
25. @BennoLoewenberg Ensuring navigation regardless of input method Communicating state changes Tactile AND visual
26. @BennoLoewenberg Useful labels and messaging Semantic markup Paint as added layer of information
27.   WHAT TO START WITH  @BennoLoewenberg
28. @BennoLoewenberg Implementing accessible design & code Code :-)
29. Source: James Sullivan Are you able to read this ? @BennoLoewenberg
30. How about now ? Source: James Sullivan @BennoLoewenberg
31. Can you stand reading this ? Source: James Sullivan @BennoLoewenberg
32. @BennoLoewenberg Colour & Contrast Source: Accessible Color Matrix
33. @BennoLoewenberg Colour & Contrast Source: Koopersmith & Miner
34. @BennoLoewenberg Colour & Contrast Source: Koopersmith & Miner
35. @BennoLoewenberg Colour & Contrast
36. Label @BennoLoewenberg Contrast ?
37. Label @BennoLoewenberg ContrAAAHst !
38. Il1 @BennoLoewenberg Guess the glyph ?  Font face: “Gill Sans”
39. Il1 @BennoLoewenberg Yes, that’s the glyph !   Font face: “Aestetico”
40. Il1 db qp CO eo Il1 db qp CO eo Il1 db qp CO eo @BennoLoewenberg Font faces: “Helvetica / Arial” “Aestetico” “Franziska” ! ! ! + + + + + + + + + + + ! !
41. @BennoLoewenberg — | decypherable by dyslexic — | complies WCAG minimum settings — | scalable by user settings (dynamic type)   READABLE TYPE 
42. Label font-size: 1 rem @BennoLoewenberg
43. @BennoLoewenberg Focus Behaviour
44. @BennoLoewenberg Label most important, but often forgotten
45. Touch Target Sizes @BennoLoewenberg 0.75 cun
46. Label height: 3 rem @BennoLoewenberg
47. Semantic markup Source: HTML5 Accessibility @BennoLoewenberg
48. Name @BennoLoewenberg label for = "name" input id = "name" Labelled form elements added value: label becomes part of touch target too
49. Name @BennoLoewenberg High contrast mode Semantic html automatically gets rendered accessibly
50. Label That‘s an error ! @BennoLoewenberg @BennoLoewenberg Normal vision
51. @BennoLoewenberg @BennoLoewenberg Deuteranopia (simulated) Is that an error ? Label
52. @BennoLoewenberg descriptive error message − Don't rely on colour as sole information Label
53. alt = "success" alt = "warning" alt = "information" alt = "error" Non-text elements − ! i
54. “The first rule of ARIA is not to use it. But you should use it knowingly to support assistive technology” @BennoLoewenberg
55. @BennoLoewenberg descriptive error message − First name alt = "error" aria-describedby = "first-name-error-msg" label for = "firstname"
56.   BEYOND COMPONENT STYLING  @BennoLoewenberg
57. “Inherently inclusive design systems that contain accessible patterns don’t guarantee accessible products.” Source. Roy & Curtis @BennoLoewenberg
58. Accessibility should be backed into the design system strategy Sources: Cook & Curtis IMPLEMENTING ACCESSBILITY Embedded in System Configured by Team Work identified by Audit + + @BennoLoewenberg
59. most important HOW TO USE HOW TO USE HOW IT LOOKS & SOUNDS MADE TO USE @BennoLoewenberg
60. most important HOW TO USE GUIDELINES STYLE & PATTERNS DES & DEV RESOURCES @BennoLoewenberg
61. BUILDING BLOCKS (STYLE GUIDE) Color Pallettes Typographic Scales Grid Definitions Icons & Assets UI PATTERNS (LIBRARY) Elements Components Modules Templates RULES (GUIDELINES) Design Principles Implementation Guidelines Editorial Guidelines @BennoLoewenberg Source: UX Pin integrate accessibility here
62. “Define what you mean, when you say, you are accessible.” Source: Verison Brand Guidelines @BennoLoewenberg Design Principles Implementation Guidelines Editorial Guidelines
63. Designing for users who are deaf or hard of hearing  Do... write in plain language use subtitles or provide transcripts for videos use a linear, logical layout ! CC ! Don’t... use complicated words or figures of speech ! put content in audio or video only make complex layouts and menus ! ! Designing for users who are deaf or hard of hearing  Do... write in plain language use subtitles or provide transcripts for videos use a linear, logical layout break up content with sub-headings, ! CC ! Don’t... use complicated words or figures of speech ! put content in audio or video only make complex layouts and menus make users read long blocks ! ! Design Principles Implementation Guidelines Editorial Guidelines Source: UK Home Office – Accessibility Posters @BennoLoewenberg Designing for users … Designing for users with dyslexia XyL dAS e i XyL dAS e i XyL dAS e i Do... use images and diagrams to support text align text to the left and keep a consistent layout consider producing materials in other formats (for example audio or video) keep content short, clear and simple let users change the contrast between background and text ! ! Don’t... use large blocks of heavy text underline words, use italics or write in capitals force users to remember things from previous pages - give reminders and prompts rely on accurate spelling - use autocorrect or provide suggestions put too much information in one place !! DON’T DO THIS ! ! ! dyslexia dsyle Designing for users with dyslexia XyL dAS e i XyL dAS e i XyL dAS e i Do... use images and diagrams to support text align text to the left and keep a consistent layout consider producing materials in other formats (for example audio or video) keep content short, clear and simple let users change the contrast between background and text ! ! ! Don’t... use large blocks of heavy text underline words, use italics or write in capitals force users to remember things from previous pages - give reminders and prompts rely on accurate spelling - use autocorrect or provide suggestions put too much information in one place !! DON’T DO THIS ! ! ! dyslexia dsyle ! ukhomeoffice.github.io/accessibility-posters/ posters/accessibility-posters.pdf Designing for users with physical or motor disabilities Do... make large clickable actions Yes give clickable elements space design for keyboard or speech only use design with mobile and touchscreen in mind provide shortcuts Tab ! !" Find address Postcode Don’t... demand precision No bunch interactions together make dynamic content that requires a lot of mouse movement have short time out windows tire users with lots of typing and scrolling ! ! 1 2 3 2a 2b 2c ! Your session has timed out Address ng for users with al or motor ities Yes Tab ! !" Find address Postcode Don’t... demand precision No bunch interactions together make dynamic content that requires a lot of mouse movement have short time out windows tire users with lots of typing and scrolling ! ! 1 2 3 2a 2b 2c ! Your session has timed out Address ukhomeoffice.github.io/accessibility-posters/ posters/accessibility-posters.pdf Designing for users with anxiety Do... give users enough time to complete an action explain what will happen after completing a service make important information clear Don’t... rush users or set impractical time limits leave users confused about next steps or timeframes leave users uncertain about the consequences of their actions 1 3 2 4 We have sent you an email ng for users with ty h Don’t... rush users or set impractical time limits leave users confused about next steps or timeframes leave users uncertain about the consequences of their actions 1 3 2 4 make support or help hard to access We have sent you an email Designing for users on the autistic spectrum Do... write in plain language use simple colours use simple sentences and bullets make buttons descriptive build simple and consistent layouts ! Don’t... use bright contrasting colours use figures of speech and idioms create a wall of text make buttons vague and unpredictable build complex and cluttered layouts ! !! Designing for users on the autistic spectrum Do... write in plain language use simple colours use simple sentences and bullets make buttons descriptive build simple and consistent layouts ! ! Don’t... use bright contrasting colours use figures of speech and idioms create a wall of text make buttons vague and unpredictable build complex and cluttered layouts ! !! ! ukhomeoffice.github.io/accessibility-posters/ posters/accessibility-posters.pdf Designing for users of screen readers ! " Do... describe images and provide transcripts for video <alt> Don’t... only show information in an image or video Designing for users of screen readers ! " Do... describe images and provide transcripts for video follow a linear <alt> Don’t... only show information in an image or video spread content Designing for users with low vision   Do... use good colour contrasts and a readable font size publish all information on web pages use a combination of colour, shapes and text Aa ! HTML Start Don’t... use low colour contrasts and small font size bury information in downloads only use colour to convey meaning Aa ! Designing for users with low vision   Do... use good colour contrasts and a readable font size publish all information on web pages use a combination of colour, shapes and text follow a linear, Aa ! HTML Start 200% magnification Don’t... use low colour contrasts and small font size bury information in downloads only use colour to convey meaning spread content all Aa ! 200% magnification
64. Accessible implementation & contents Design Principles Implementation Guidelines Editorial Guidelines @BennoLoewenberg
65. @BennoLoewenberg Informative headings and page titles Source: A11y Annotation Kit optimal for quick reading & SEO too
66. @BennoLoewenberg Meaningful link texts and button labels Source: unknown
67. Text alternatives for images @BennoLoewenberg alt = "description"
68. Text alternatives for media @BennoLoewenberg  Link to Caption & Transcript 
69. @BennoLoewenberg Form Design First name eMail address in large zoom levels a second column vanishes (e.  g. for last name)
70. @BennoLoewenberg Feedback and Notifications • Last name is required • Street name is required • Passwords don’t match −
71. @BennoLoewenberg Implementing cognitive accessibility
72. “Disabled buttons disable disabled users” Source. Hampus Sethfors @BennoLoewenberg
73. @BennoLoewenberg Submit Clear form ✗
74. @BennoLoewenberg Plain Language
75. @BennoLoewenberg Reduced Motion Parallax Scroll Effect Parallax Scroll Effect Parallax Scroll Effect  preferes-reduced-motion 
76. Data Visualization Source: unknown @BennoLoewenberg Data set 1 Data set 2 important for dyslexic too
77. Souce: Accessibility statement for the GOV.UK Design System website — | change colours, contrast levels and fonts — | zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen — | navigate website using just a keyboard — | navigate using speech recognition — | listen to the website with a screen reader @BennoLoewenberg
78. @BennoLoewenberg Keyboard Navigation
79. @BennoLoewenberg Tab Order (DOM) Source: Accessibility Bluelines
80. @BennoLoewenberg Focus Order (Landmarks) Source: Accessibility Bluelines
81. @BennoLoewenberg Skip Links Sources: A11y Annotation Kit & Accessibility Bluelines
82.   KICK STARTER TOOLBOX  @BennoLoewenberg
83. Source: W3C WAI WCAG @BennoLoewenberg Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 
84. Source: Microsoft Inclusive Design @BennoLoewenberg Inclusive Design Toolkit  incl. Inclusive AI
85. Source: Microsoft Accesible Design Toolkit for Figma Accessible Design Toolkit  @BennoLoewenberg
86. @BennoLoewenberg Online Accessibility Toolkit  Source: Government of South Australia
87. @BennoLoewenberg Equal Access Toolkit  Source: IBM Accessibility
88. @BennoLoewenberg Source: A Book Apart Accessibility for Everyone 
89. @BennoLoewenberg Source: Smashing Magazine Inclusive Components
90. @BennoLoewenberg  AI 
91. GenAI can support A11y at every step (design, code, finding & fixing problems) through a growing number of tools. But it needs correctives to be useful: Intent detection, prompting expertise and guardrails for accessible outputs. @BennoLoewenberg aft. Kevin Berg
92.   TAKE HOME THOUGHTS  @BennoLoewenberg
93. “When we design for disability first, you often stumble upon solutions that are better than those when we design for the norm.” Source. Elise Roy @BennoLoewenberg
94. @BennoLoewenberg
95. “When we treat accessibility as a requirement box to check, we can miss opportunities to design better products and services, period.” Source: Mason Magyar @BennoLoewenberg
96.   @BENNOLOEWENBERG