Designing for Digital Inclusion
Adeline Salkeld, esteemed RUSH Design Director, embarked on a journey to enhance our team's awareness and commitment to accessibility in design. In this interview, she sheds light on how she spearheaded this upskilling initiative with the valuable assistance from Access Advisors, a leading accessibility consultancy. Adeline also provides a glimpse into how accessibility will take centre stage as a fundamental focus in our future designs.
Q: Adeline, what prompted you to prioritise accessibility in design?
Adeline: As designers, we have a responsibility to ensure that our digital experiences are inclusive and accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. By embracing accessibility, we can create designs that empower and accommodate a diverse range of users.
Q: Can you describe the upskilling process you undertook with the team?
Adeline: We collaborated with Access Advisors to conduct a series of comprehensive workshops and training sessions. These sessions equipped our team with the knowledge and tools they needed to design accessible experiences. We focused on understanding WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards, inclusive design principles, and implementing effective accessibility solutions.
Q: How has this upskilling impacted our design process?
Adeline: The upskilling process has had a profound impact on our team's approach to design. Accessibility considerations are now an integral part of our workflow, from the initial concept stage through to development and testing. We're more mindful of creating designs that cater to diverse user needs, ensuring that everyone can navigate and interact with our products seamlessly.
Q: What are some of the key accessibility features you've implemented?
Adeline: We've implemented a range of accessibility features to enhance the user experience, including:
- Improved keyboard navigation for users who rely on assistive technologies.
- Clear and descriptive alt text for images, enabling visually impaired users to understand the content.
- Color contrast adjustments to ensure text and UI elements are easily distinguishable.
- Closed captions and transcripts for video content, making it accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Q: How do you envision accessibility influencing our future work?
Adeline: Accessibility will remain a cornerstone of our design philosophy moving forward. We're committed to creating inclusive and accessible experiences that cater to the diverse needs of our users. By continuously learning, iterating, and refining our practices, we aim to set a benchmark for accessibility in the industry.
