Making Digital Design Accessible: A Guide to Inclusive UX/UI

How we can make digital experiences truly work for everyone? With over 1 billion people worldwide living with disabilities, creating inclusive designs isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential.

Why Should We Care About Inclusive Design?

Think about curb cuts—those sidewalk ramps designed for wheelchairs. They ended up helping everyone: parents with strollers, delivery workers, travelers with rolling luggage. Digital accessibility works the same way. When we design for accessibility, we often create better experiences for everyone.

The Numbers Speak Volumes

Here are some eye-opening statistics that highlight why accessibility matters (according to All Accessible, 2023):

Vision Statistics

🔍 36 million people worldwide are blind
👁️ 217 million have moderate to severe vision impairment
🇺🇸 7 million Americans live with visual impairments
🔊 82.3% of screen reader users report website barriers

Hearing Statistics

👂 466 million people globally have disabling hearing loss
🎧 15% of American adults experience hearing difficulties
📺 Closed captions are essential for audio/video content

Mobility & Cognitive Impact

⚡ 61 million American adults have mobility-affecting disabilities
🧠 Cognitive impairments (dyslexia, ADHD, autism) significantly impact web use
👥 Aging population: 2.1 billion people will be 60+ by 2050

These numbers tell us something important: accessibility isn’t just about doing the right thing—it’s about including a significant portion of our global population and tapping into a massive market that’s often overlooked.

Let me walk you through how we can make our designs both beautiful and accessible.

Accessibility in the EU is not optional

In Europe, making websites accessible is now required by law. From June 28, 2025, new rules called the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will make sure everyone can use digital services. This includes:

Online shopping websites
Banking websites
Transportation booking sites

Government websites already need to follow these rules under the Web Accessibility Directive. These laws make sure websites are:

Easy to see and understand
Simple to use
Clear for everyone

Companies that don’t follow these rules can get big fines. So if you’re making websites for people in Europe, making them accessible should be very important to you.

Let’s Break Down the Key Principles

1. Smart Use of Colors (UI)

Here’s something you might not know: about 8% of males have some form of color blindness. That’s why we can’t just rely on colors to convey information. Instead:

Mix in other visual cues like icons and patterns
Double-check your color combinations
Run your designs through tools like Colorblind Web Page Filter or my personal favorite, Stark

Nobody likes getting lost in a confusing interface, right? Clear navigation is especially crucial for users with cognitive challenges. Try:

Building a logical information flow
Keeping navigation patterns consistent
Using clear headings and sections
Testing your structure with TreeJack

3. Good Contrast and Readable Typography (UI)

Reading shouldn’t be a struggle. Here’s what works:

Follow WCAG 2.1 contrast guidelines (I use WebAIM Contrast Checker)
Pick fonts that are easy on the eyes
Make sure text can be resized without breaking your layout
Give elements room to breathe with proper spacing

4. Compatibility with Assistive Tools (UX)

Many users rely on screen readers and other assistive tech. Make their lives easier by:

Following ARIA guidelines
Writing helpful alt text for images
Using proper HTML elements
Testing with tools like WAVE or axe DevTools

5. Visual and Tactile Feedback (UI)

Everyone needs to know when something’s happening. Make it clear with:

Visible focus states
Multiple feedback types (visual, haptic, audio)
Clear hover and active states
Obviously clickable buttons and links

6. Test with Real Users

Nothing beats real feedback. Here’s what you can do:

Include people with disabilities in your testing
Work with accessibility experts
Use testing tools
Share what you learn with your team

Want to Learn More?

Check out these fantastic resources:

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Have you designed with accessibility in mind? What challenges did you face? Let’s learn from each other’s experiences.