That means we don’t just value functional UX, we believe that it is absolutely essential to accessible and inclusive digital experiences. After all, the end goal of UX design and accessible development is the exact same: A seamless and efficient experience for the end user.
UX design and accessibility
Firstly, what does UX design mean? Designing a user experience (UX) means building a product that fulfills the expectations of each and every user. It should connect each person who uses your design with the information, outcomes, and resources that they need most. Put simply: A good user experience is an experience that works, and which satisfies the demands of the end user.
We could describe accessible design in much the same way. The purpose of building accessible experiences is to allow every user to fully engage with and benefit from the product or service at hand. Adding an overcoat of “accessible” features to a dysfunctional user experience is completely counterproductive in this sense. At AccessPoint, we aim to build experiences that everybody will not only be able to engage with, but which will also be genuinely useful and enjoyable to use. This requires the considered application of UX principles throughout the accessibility process.
Integrating UX
Because every user deserves an efficient and satisfying experience, our process at AccessPoint embraces the integration of UX design thinking at every point. Our in-house UX experts track, measure, and test user behaviour, and then implement changes to your digital platforms in order to streamline and improve the user journey. Of course, we do this primarily with accessibility in mind, but the benefits are enjoyed by every user. This also creates more efficient user journeys, helping convert more visitors into leads.
Likewise, UX is not just boring grey wireframes and technical frontend work. It also involves creating a beautiful and exciting user interface, which is an important subset of the overall user experience. When it comes to web design, function often requires form, just as form will reflect function. True accessibility embraces this fact, and ensures that disabled users can genuinely enjoy their digital experience, not simply endure a legally compliant but lifeless interface.
Good design is accessible design, and accessible design is good design. By taking a truly holistic approach to accessibility, and by building an experience that not only facilitates every user, but also satisfies them, AccessPoint can fully combine a streamlined user experience with a compliant accessible design.