Design That Includes, Design That Wins

Imagine building a beautiful, modern website only to find out millions of people can’t use it.

For over 7 million Americans with visual impairments, flashy design without accessibility equals digital exclusion. Accessibility isn’t a checklist. It’s a mindset shift. And in an era of inclusive, ethical, and user-first design, visual accessibility is the foundation.

In this guide, we’ll explore 9 essential visual design practices that ensure your site is usable, beautiful, and inclusive to al without sacrificing aesthetics.

🔐 Plus: Download our free Accessible Design Checklist to apply these best practices instantly.

Start with Color Contrast (4.5:1 Minimum)

Color contrast is the #1 accessibility offender. WCAG standards require a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 between text and background.

• Avoid light-gray on white, pale blue on yellow, or red on black.

• Use tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker to validate every hex pair.

🎯 Pro Tip: Test both light and dark modes for contrast compliance.

Never Rely on Color Alone

Colors should support meaning not carry it.

• For charts, buttons, and alerts, use patterns, icons, or underlines in addition to color.

• Red-green color blindness affects 8% of men globally.

✅ Example: Add a warning icon next to a red error label not just the red alone.

Use Alt Text That Describes, Not Decorates

Alt text allows screen readers to describe images. But generic tags like “image” or “graphic” are useless.

• Be specific: “Woman holding a laptop with a smile” is better than “hero image.”

• Skip decorative images using aria-hidden="true" or empty alt="".

Choose Legible, Scalable Typography

Fonts should be:

• Minimum 16px body size

• Sans-serif or highly readable serif fonts

• Spaced appropriately for dyslexia (1.5x line height)

And always enable zoom-responsiveness. Let users resize to 200% without breaking layout.

Respect Focus States for Keyboard Navigation

Not everyone uses a mouse.

• Ensure all links and buttons have visible focus outlines.

• Use CSS :focus-visible for accessible yet elegant styling.

• Provide a “Skip to Content” link for screen reader and tab-access users.

🔍 Test: Navigate your site using only the Tab key.

Structure with Reading Order in Mind

Users who rely on screen readers move linearly so your layout needs semantic structure.

• Use proper h1 to h6 heading hierarchy

• Apply ARIA landmarks (e.g., role="main", role="navigation")

• Avoid layout tricks that shift visual order from source order

Design Forms & Buttons with Clarity

Accessible forms include:

• Labeled fields (<label for="email">)

• Clear errors (with aria-live for dynamic messaging)

• Descriptive buttons: “Submit Application” > “Submit”

🧠 Hint: Don’t use placeholder text as a label, it disappears and breaks accessibility.

Offer Dark Mode & High Contrast Themes

Dark mode is more than a preference, it reduces eyestrain and supports accessibility.

• Offer a toggle for dark/light mode

• Test contrast levels in both states

• Use CSS prefers-color-scheme media queries

Progressive Enhancement Wins

Start with clean, semantic HTML, then layer on styles.

• Ensure that content is accessible even when JavaScript is disabled

• Avoid table-based layouts

• Keep animations subtle. No flashing, fast-flickering effects

🌐 Bonus: Use tools like Lighthouse, AXE, or tota11y for automatic accessibility audits.

Real-World Failures: Why It Matters

• Domino’s Pizza was sued because blind users couldn’t access their online ordering interface.

• Pornhub introduced an accessibility overhaul proving that any business can adapt.

• Over 200+ ADA lawsuits are filed per year just for inaccessible design.

FAQ

What is visual accessibility in web design?
Ensuring your visuals, colors, images, fonts, layout are perceivable and usable by people with visual, cognitive, or motor impairments.

Is accessibility legally required?
Yes. WCAG compliance is expected under the ADA for most websites, especially public-facing businesses.

How can I check my site's accessibility?
Use tools like WebAIM, AXE, or Chrome’s Lighthouse audit to test contrast, alt text, and markup.

Does accessibility conflict with good design?
No. In fact, accessibility enhances usability and often simplifies and improves design clarity.