Accessibility, a powerful design tool

March 6, 2019

When given the choice between an accessible bathroom or a non-accessible one, many people would pick the accessible one: there’s more space, it’s more comfortable, it’s a no-brainer. Digital products are the same. When given the choice, people naturally prefer what’s easier for them to use, to read, or to understand.


But designers tend to be reluctant to follow accessibility standards — the design practices that help people with visual, motor, auditory, cognitive, or other disabilities make the most of a digital product. Accessibility is a complicated subject, and sticking to those standards is often perceived as a creativity inhibitor.


But accessible design helps everyone. It improves experiences not just for people with disabilities, but for people in temporary situations where their usual way of interacting with your product won’t work — say, if they’re outside and can’t see their screen well or if their mouse runs out of battery and they can only use their keyboard.
Accessibility is not a constraint: It is a design philosophy that encourages you to make better choices for your users, and helps you focus on what really matters. Simplicity will always be the most difficult target to reach in a design, and accessibility can be one of the best tools to get you there.Accessibility, a powerful design tool

From Hubert Florin, a designer at Slack. One of the best and comprehendible explanations and motivations for accessibility that I've ever seen. Accessibility is not a constraint, it's a tool to reach simplicity. And simplicity is what's best for everyone.

It’s honest, authentic, and accessible.

I love sharing my experiences working in design and what’ve I’ve learned along the way. Join a community of thousands of designers, developers, and product professionals by signing up to my newsletter!

Not quite ready to sign up? I totally understand! Why not start by reading some of my past issues?

Great! Just “one more thing”...

You need to confirm your email to confirm your subscription.

  1. March, 2024

  2. February, 2024

  3. January, 2024

  4. December, 2023

  5. November, 2023

  6. October, 2023

  7. September, 2023

  8. August, 2023

  9. July, 2023

  10. June, 2023

  11. May, 2023

  12. April, 2023

  13. March, 2023

  14. January, 2023

  15. December, 2022

  16. November, 2022

  17. September, 2022

  18. August, 2022

  19. July, 2022

  20. June, 2022

  21. May, 2022

  22. April, 2022

  23. January, 2022

  24. December, 2021

  25. November, 2021

  26. October, 2021

  27. September, 2021

  28. August, 2021

  29. July, 2021

  30. June, 2021

  31. May, 2021

  32. April, 2021

  33. March, 2021

  34. January, 2021

  35. November, 2020

  36. October, 2020

  37. September, 2020

  38. August, 2020

  39. June, 2020

  40. May, 2020

  41. April, 2020

  42. March, 2020

  43. February, 2020

  44. January, 2020

  45. December, 2019

  46. November, 2019

  47. October, 2019

  48. September, 2019

  49. August, 2019

  50. July, 2019

  51. June, 2019

  52. May, 2019

  53. April, 2019

  54. March, 2019

  55. February, 2019

  56. January, 2019

  57. December, 2018

  58. November, 2018

  59. October, 2018

  60. September, 2018

  61. August, 2018

  62. July, 2018

  63. June, 2018

  64. May, 2018

  65. April, 2018

  66. March, 2018

  67. February, 2018

  68. January, 2018

  69. December, 2017

  70. November, 2017

  71. October, 2017

  72. September, 2017

  73. August, 2017

  74. July, 2017

  75. June, 2017

  76. May, 2017

  77. April, 2017

  78. March, 2017

  79. February, 2017

  80. January, 2017

  81. December, 2016

  82. November, 2016

  83. October, 2016

  84. September, 2016

  85. August, 2016

  86. July, 2016

  87. June, 2016

  88. May, 2016

  89. April, 2016

  90. March, 2016

  91. February, 2016

  92. January, 2016

  93. December, 2015

  94. November, 2015

  95. October, 2015

  96. September, 2015

  97. August, 2015

  98. July, 2015

  99. June, 2015

  100. May, 2015

  101. April, 2015

  102. November, 2014

  103. April, 2013