Digital design for all: Practical tips ahead of the European Accessibility Act

With only two months to go before the European Accessibility Act comes into force, it’s time for brands to get serious about inclusive digital design.

Around 46% of people with complex disabilities face exclusion when attempting to engage with services online. Prioritising accessibility ensures your business is meeting both users' needs, and legal requirements.

But how do you prioritise accessible design while keeping your brand’s identity intact? Below, you will find a list of web accessibility best practices that you should integrate into your digital products before June 28th.

Writing for everyone

What you say and how you say it matter. In terms of digital accessibility, inclusive writing means ensuring everyone, including those with disabilities, can understand and engage with your content.

• Keep it simple: Information should be clear, concise and understood by everyone – no exceptions. Avoid jargon, complex sentence structures and overly technical language.
• Audio descriptions and transcripts: Any videos or visual resources online should be accompanied by closed captions, transcripts or audio descriptions.
• Include alternative text (alt text): A picture may say a thousand words, but without alt text, it says nothing to those using screen readers. When using images, always provide alt text that describes the content.
• Descriptive headings: Structured page headers make it easier for screen readers to understand the content and improve navigation for the user.

Colour with all users in mind

Colour is a powerful tool for design, and it can be tempting to use colours that simply look visually pleasing. However, these choices may not be legible for everyone.

• High contrast: High contrast between text and background makes it easier for users to distinguish letters and words. The WCAG suggests a colour ratio of at least 4.5 to 1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
• Don’t rely on colour alone: Using only colour to convey information excludes users with colour blindness, a condition affecting an estimated 300 million people around the world. Use text labels, patterns or icons to complement colour and make links and buttons easier to identify.

Combining aesthetics with accessibility

You don’t have to sacrifice aesthetics for accessibility. With the right adjustments, your chosen design can be enjoyed by all.

• Responsive design: Your product or service should be accessible on every device – mobiles, tablets and desktops. Navigation should be simple and easily navigated by keyboard alone.
• Accessible forms: Poorly designed forms are a common stumbling block. This can be avoided by clearly labelling required fields and including error messages that are easy to follow.
• Use of interactive elements: Every clickable element, including links and icons, should have clear visual cues and text labels. You can test these features with keyboard navigation and screen readers to confirm accessibility.

Staying true to your brand identity

You want your brand to shine while ensuring every user can use your website or app effectively. This delicate balance allows you to showcase your business’s core values without compromising on visual identity:

• Use brand colours with accessibility in mind: Use your brand colours in a way that meets contrast requirements. You may need to adjust them to match the recommended ratio.
• Typography: You want fonts that reflect your brand and are easy to read on all devices without becoming distracting. Avoid overly decorative fonts and stick to simple, clear typefaces.
• Consistent visual language: Keep brand tone and visuals consistent throughout, but remember: the way you communicate through design should always be inclusive.

Accessible design with IDHL

Our experts can guide you through the European Accessibility Act in time for its deadline. Get in touch with us today to find out how we can help. To get an overview of the EAA and what it means for UK businesses, download our Accessibility guide.