Inclusive design

1. pretty accessible
design by pxlgirl
2.0

2. what are accessibility and inclusion?
the basics
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl
Accessibility is refers to products, devices and services for people with
disabilities to ensure they can get and process information without
limitations.
Inclusion is a broader approach and involves removing barriers so that
individuals with a disability can live and participate in regular society.
Accessibility is one way to achieve this goal.

3. and how we perceive it
the world around us
Our senses collect information, our brains interpret the information. This
allows us to function and navigate the world we live in. Even though
people with disabilities have a disadvantage if their senses are impaired,
accessible assistive technologies can compensate a lot nowadays.
However, accessibility is often dismissed as a minority issue. While the
number of people with disabilities since birth is small by comparison,
accidents, disease and age can cause someone's senses to deteriorate or
stop working altogether. Furthermore, environmental circumstances
(stressful situations, weather conditions) can also limit the ability of non-
disabled people to function.
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

4. that can help individuals with disabilities
technologies and tools
At this point, people need tools and solutions that help them process
information accordingly:
• visual: screen readers, magnification, braille terminals
• motor/mobility: speech recognition, keyboard overlays
• auditory: subtitles or sign language
• cognitive: simple/understandable language
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

5. laws and regulations on disability rights
the legal angle
Many western countries (such as Australia, USA/Canada, UK) have
passed anti-discrimination/accessibility laws in order to protect the rights
of individuals with disabilities.
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
• User Agent Accessibility Guidelines (UAAG)
• The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

6. and the slightly painful truth
the reality
Guidelines and laws were made with good intentions, yet there are some
downsides that cannot be ignored:
• Complicated (tech) jargon
• Exclusion of targeted audiences in the development process
• Outdated, useless and inapplicable rules in practice
• Inability/unwillingness to address (user) feedback
• Lack of understanding about individual (users) needs
• Limitations on innovative development, creativity and design
• Enforcing laws regardless of capability to meet requirements
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

7. than meets the eye…
but wait, there is more
While the technological end is well covered, many charities and
accessibility advocates ignore the importance of visual appearance.They
assume that following rules and regulations is just good enough,
resulting in lack of understanding or sometimes blatant ignorance. Most
designers are unaware that this is even an issue.
As a result, many web sites and print materials look amateurish. This not
only denies people with disabilities a positive user experience, but also
signals to the outside world that the subject matter is not important or
serious.
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

8. not all that glitters is gold
the bad…
Example of the widely used font enlarger: too small to be found, and breaks up the
page layout when the internal browser zoom function is used.
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

9. beauty actually matters
… and the ugly
Examples of two not visually appealing web sites lacking any design, usability/user
experience concept.
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

10. or maybe not?
as blind as a bat
Being visually impaired does not mean being unable to see at all. Many
still have remaining eyesight due to the following conditions:
• myopia/hyperopia (short/farsightedness) blurred vision
• color-blindness
• visual field disorders
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

11. of color-blindness
a simulation
Example an image as seen by a normally sighted and a color-blind individual.
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

12. of blurred vision/myopia
another simulation
Example of an image as seen from a distance of about 30 cm with full vision, and with
approximately 20% eyesight.
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

13. of visual field disorder
yet another simulation
Example of a mobile device as seen from a distance (20 cm) and up close (5 cm), with
approximately 20%, and 5% eyesight.
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

14. busting the myths
a matter of fact
The assumption that visually impaired people can’t see the content and
therefore don’t need design is a myth. In fact, design can be used to
create solutions to remove barriers.
In fact, design can be used to create solutions to remove barriers.This
requires solid communication strategies and high quality universal
design concepts, created with accessibility in mind by default, rather than
an additional/optional feature.
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

15. HITAP (Ministry of Public Health) |Thailand
showcase
A policy brief addressing cervical cancer inThailand.The target audience was women
between the age of 40 - 60 (with potential vision loss)
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

16. Inclusie Woerden | Netherlands
showcase
A logo for a non-profit organization to advise governmental institutions and companies
on accessibility in the city of Woerden, Netherlands.The colors were extracted from the
color blind preview and applied to the final logo.
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

17. inclusive design & accessibility | Netherlands
showcase
A logo for a networking group (meetup) advocating accessibility and inclusive design
in the Netherlands.The lighter/darker color scheme and the flipped 11 is an abstraction
of diverse people and a11y (numeronym for accessibility)
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

18. make the world accessible (again)
the final note
It’s not always up to advocates, rules and regulations to decide what is in
a certain group’s best interest. People (regardless of condition and the
lack thereof) should be given possibilities and support if needed to adjust
the content and environment to their unique and individual needs.
Accessibility shouldn’t be forced, it should be common sense.
pretty accessible 2.0 | design by pxlgirl

19. thank you.
http://www.designbypxlgirl.com | design by pxlgirl
Agnieszka pxlgirl Czajkowska
designer | consultant