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Designing for accessibility and inclusive user experiences is not only a necessary step in building an inclusive society, but also a smart business strategy. By developing products and services that are accessible to everyone, businesses can grow their user base and reach more users. We’ve seen so many accessibility updates in user experience design, and we think that’s a big win for us. Examples that come to mind are short-form video platforms and the use of text-to-speech capabilities and AI translation. Short video platforms and social media in general have fostered a culture of very short attention spans. Subtitles greatly help accessibility and keep users engaged with your content. This can be a concern if you’re not consuming the right content, but as long as you’re consuming it, it can be of great help.

Additionally, accessibility design can also improve the overall user experience for all users. For example, designing a website that is easy to navigate using keyboard shortcuts benefits not only users with disabilities, but also those who prefer to use the keyboard over the mouse. In fact, I’ve personally found keyboard shortcuts to be very helpful in finding new ways to use tools I already use. As an Experience Designer, I spend most of my day in Figma. Being able to use keyboard shortcuts has given me a faster design path than I could have experienced without these skills. I also discovered keyboard shortcuts for the first time and learned about so many new tools in Gmail.

Designing for accessibility also means creating a comfortable and usable environment for everyone. This includes using clear and concise language, providing easy-to-read fonts and colors, and ensuring content is organized in a logical and intuitive way.

Additionally, designing accessibility and inclusive user experiences is not a one-off task. This is an ongoing process that requires ongoing testing and evaluation. This means designers must constantly review and improve their products and services to ensure they are accessible and inclusive for everyone. It provides room for constant iteration and improvement so that the final project is never final and can be constantly improved to make it more comprehensive.

In summary, designing accessible and inclusive user experiences is an important step in building a more equitable and inclusive society. Not only does it benefit people with disabilities, it also improves the overall user experience for all users. By developing products and services that are accessible to everyone, businesses can grow their user base and reach more users. It is important for designers and developers to be proactive in product design and to ensure that products and services are accessible to everyone, regardless of ability or disability.