Accessible design helps more people use a product with confidence. It also makes everyday interfaces clearer: labels become easier to scan, controls easier to find and content easier to understand. I bring accessibility into the earliest sketches so it shapes the experience instead of becoming a last-minute checklist.
Build a clear visual hierarchy
Use headings in a logical order and make each section easy to scan. Give body copy comfortable line spacing and keep paragraphs focused. Colour can support hierarchy, but it should never carry meaning on its own; pair status colours with a label, icon or pattern.
Check contrast in context
Test text and control colours against the backgrounds where they actually appear, including hover and disabled states. Small text needs especially careful contrast. If a combination feels hard to read at normal size, adjust the colour or weight before adding decoration.
Design every state for a keyboard
Make sure links, buttons, fields and menus can be reached and used with a keyboard. A visible focus style should follow the control as someone moves through the page. Keep the order predictable and avoid hiding focus behind sticky headers or overlays.
Make controls easy to understand
Write labels that explain what a control does, and keep them visible when a form field is filled. Use descriptive link text instead of relying on “click here.” For icon-only controls, provide an accessible name and a comfortable target area, especially on touch screens.
Review with real content
Long headings, translated labels, error messages and empty states often reveal problems that polished mock-ups miss. I test those moments early, then check the design at different viewport widths and with reduced motion enabled.
Accessibility is part of the interface's visual quality: every detail should help someone understand what to do next.
A short, repeatable review at each design milestone catches small barriers before they become expensive to fix. Start with hierarchy, contrast, keyboard focus and clear labels, then keep testing as the product grows.
Written by
Elena Novak