By Elizabeth-Mary Olowolabi
Technology, being used by people of different abilities, ages and backgrounds, is now a big part of our daily lives. And as mobile apps, websites and digital products are part of everyday life, designers play a crucial role in the creation of these products. Unfortunately, countless products are still being built without considering accessibility.
Caption: Example of accessible vs inaccessible UI design
Accessibility in product design means building digital experiences that can be used by everyone including older users, people with disabilities, people using low-end devices or slow internet connections.
In UI/UX design, accessibility is ensuring that a product can be interacted with easily regardless of device, physical ability and environment. Some users may have hearing difficulties, some may be visually impaired or have motor limitations. Some may have outdated devices, small screens or unstable internet connections. Not factoring in these instances can lead to products that work only for a limited group of people and good design should work not only for users with perfect conditions but for everyone.
