Great web design is for everyone
Let’s be honest—stunning visuals are only half the story. The best websites are designed so everyone can use them, regardless of ability.
Accessibility in design means making sure your digital spaces (websites, web apps, and digital products) are open to all users, including those with disabilities.
In this article, you’ll discover what accessibility means for web design, why it matters, and how to make your next project more inclusive and effective.
Understanding accessibility in web design
Accessibility in web design is all about creating digital experiences that are usable by people of all abilities. This goes beyond compliance—it’s about designing for all users, whether they have visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive differences.
Inclusive design is your ticket to a broader audience, better user experiences, and even stronger brand loyalty.
Let’s first clear up some common confusion: web accessibility is not the same as usability.
Usability is about making websites easy and enjoyable to use.
Accessibility is about making them possible to use for everyone.
When you bring these together, you get digital spaces that are both welcoming and effortless.
Picture this: an inaccessible web button might have low-contrast text and a vague label—hard to spot, hard to understand. An accessible button, on the other hand, uses strong color contrast, a clear label, and is big enough to click or tap.
Simple changes like these can make all the difference in designing for all users.
Key principles of accessible web design
Accessibility for the web is built on four key principles—perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust, as outlined in the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These are the foundations for accessibility in UX and digital inclusivity.
- Perceivable
Make sure all users can perceive your content. Use strong color contrast, provide alternative text for images, and add captions or transcripts to videos. - Operable
Every interactive element should work with a keyboard, not just a mouse. Navigation menus, forms, and buttons should be accessible to all. - Understandable
Stick to consistent layouts and clear, jargon-free language. Users should always know where they are and what to do next. - Robust
Your website should work across browsers, devices, and with assistive technologies like screen readers.
You might see “a11y design principles” referenced in web communities—“a11y” is just shorthand for “accessibility.” Following WCAG guidelines is the best way to make sure your web projects meet accessibility standards and deliver great experiences for everyone.
Design Force tip:
Bookmark the latest WCAG guidelines. They’re your go-to resource for web accessibility best practices.
Quick tips for accessible web design
Ready to make your next digital project more inclusive? Here are 6 web accessibility best practices you can implement right away:
- Use color thoughtfully
Ensure text and background colors have enough contrast (at least a 4.5:1 ratio for body text). This helps everyone, but especially users with low vision. - Write meaningful alt text
Describe images so that screen reader users understand what’s important or relevant about them. Decorative images? Mark them as such. - Test keyboard navigation
Can you tab through every link, button, and form field on your site? If not, you’ve found a barrier to fix. - Choose readable typography
Use clear fonts, sufficient line spacing, and steer clear of all caps in long headlines or paragraphs. - Structure content with headings
Use H1, H2, and H3 tags to create a logical hierarchy. This helps users (and screen readers) navigate your content quickly. - Make error messages helpful
If a form input goes wrong, explain what happened and how users can fix it.
Design Force tip:
Start your next web project with accessibility in mind, not as an afterthought. You’ll save time and include more users from day one.
Real-world examples of accessible web design
Let’s look at brands that are getting accessibility right on the web:
Apple
Features like VoiceOver and scalable text settings on Apple.com make their web experiences work for users with a range of abilities—plus, they’re intuitive for everyone.
Airbnb:
Simple navigation, clear forms, and descriptive labels make Airbnb’s digital platform easy to use for all, boosting both accessibility and conversions.
Gov.uk:
The UK government’s website is a model for accessible design, using clear language, strong hierarchy, and excellent color contrast to reach the widest possible audience.
Design Force tip:
The most successful brands know that web accessibility isn’t just about compliance—it’s about connection.
Let’s make the web work for all
Web accessibility is more than a checklist—it’s a mindset that powers better digital experiences for everyone. When you design with inclusion in mind, you build trust, boost usability, and create websites that truly work for all users.
Here’s your challenge: Audit a recent web project through an accessibility lens. Can you improve color contrast, add alt text, or make navigation easier? Even one improvement brings you closer to inclusive design.
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