Design with Everyone in Mind
Every design decision affects how people experience information. Colour, typography, layout and imagery can help someone understand a message or place an unnecessary hurdle in their way.
A design can look excellent and still be difficult to use. Text may be too small to read comfortably, important information may rely on colour alone, or a busy layout may make the next step hard to find. These choices can affect people with low vision, dyslexia or colour vision differences, among others.
Accessibility does not limit creativity. It helps a design communicate with more people.
Inclusive design starts early.
Design is everywhere: social media posts, brochures, websites, reports and presentations. The same questions apply to each of them: Can people find the important information? Can they understand it? Do they know what to do next?
Considering those questions from the start gives designers room to create something distinctive and usable. It is much harder to solve an accessibility issue after the layout has been approved or the work has gone live.
Why get an independent review?
When you have spent hours working on a design, it is easy to miss a barrier. A second pair of eyes can help you spot issues while there is still time to address them.
An independent accessibility review can:
Identify barriers that may have been overlooked.
Offer practical changes that respect the designer’s creative direction.
Help designers and clients make informed decisions.
Check whether the message and intended action are clear.
Give the team more confidence before publication.
Try a quick check
Look at a design you are working on and view it in greyscale. Can you still identify the most important information? Is it clear what action someone should take?
If the meaning disappears without colour, consider adding clear text, labels, icons, borders or a stronger visual hierarchy. Greyscale is only one quick check; it does not replace a full accessibility review.
Make your next design easier to use
I provide independent accessibility reviews and practical guidance for designers, agencies and businesses. My approach combines professional accessibility knowledge with my lived experience of autism and dyslexia.
If you would like a second pair of eyes on a design, get in touch to discuss an accessibility review.
Trends 2026-Digital Accessibility
It all begins with an idea.
Trends 2026-Digital Accessibility
Accessibility in 2026: It’s No Longer Optional — It’s Good Design
For a long time, digital accessibility sat in the background.
It was treated as a technical checkbox, something to fix after launch, or mainly a legal concern.
But that’s changing fast.
In 2026, accessibility is becoming a core part of good design, user experience, and brand trust. As a designer who audits websites and trains teams on accessibility, I’m seeing this shift happen every day — and it’s reshaping how we design digital products.
Here are three big accessibility trends shaping 2026.
1. WCAG 2.2 AA Is Now the Starting Point
Moving from WCAG 2.1 to 2.2 isn’t just a technical update — it’s a mindset shift.
Most organisations now treat WCAG 2.2 AA as the minimum, not the goal. This includes:
Better login and authentication experiences
Clearer focus indicators for keyboard users
More consistent help features
Larger, easier-to-use touch targets
The key change? Accessibility is no longer just a developer problem.
Design decisions — spacing, layout, colour contrast, motion, and interaction clarity — have a huge impact on accessibility. If accessibility isn’t considered at the design stage, fixing it later becomes harder and more expensive.
2. Designing for Neurodiversity
Accessibility isn’t just about physical or sensory disabilities anymore.
There’s growing awareness of neurodiversity — including ADHD, dyslexia, autism, anxiety, and cognitive processing differences.
This doesn’t mean making designs boring or overly simple.
It means reducing unnecessary friction.
Some positive trends include:
Low-distraction or reduced-noise interface options
Better typography and spacing for readability
Reduced motion settings
Clear structure and predictable layouts
Plain-language content where possible
A reminder I often give teams:
Confusion isn’t creativity. Overload isn’t engagement.
Clear design helps everyone — not just neurodivergent users.
3. Voice, Chatbots, and Conversational Accessibility
AI chatbots and voice interfaces are everywhere now.
But accessibility often lags behind.
Common problems I still see:
Chat tools that don’t work well with screen readers
Poor keyboard navigation
Focus jumping around unpredictably
Messages not announced properly to assistive tech
If a chatbot isn’t accessible, it’s not innovative — it’s excluding people.
Done properly, conversational interfaces can actually improve accessibility, especially for people who prefer voice interaction or guided support.
But they need thoughtful design, not just flashy tech.
Accessibility Is Becoming a Brand Signal
Users notice accessibility now.
When it’s done well, it communicates:
Care
Professionalism
Trust
Design maturity
It’s no longer just compliance.
It’s part of how your brand feels.
As a designer, auditor, and trainer, I’m not just checking colour contrast anymore. I’m helping teams understand how accessibility affects perception, experience, and reputation.
Final Thought
Accessibility in 2026 isn’t reactive — it’s intentional.
If you:
Treat WCAG 2.2 AA as your baseline
Design with neurodiversity in mind
Build accessible conversational tools
You’re not just meeting standards.
You’re creating better experiences for everyone.
And honestly?
That’s just good design.