Welcome back. Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the product graveyard—you know, that digital cemetery for once-beloved tech products. It's got me feeling nostalgic…and curious. Why do some products die while others thrive? What can we learn from their demise? In a new TikTok series, I'm diving into the stories of memorable defunct products (think: Google Reader and Vine) and the lessons they offer for designers and product folks. Turns out, there's a lot we can learn from these digital ghosts. Got a defunct product you think deserves the spotlight? Hit reply and let me know.

—Tommy (@DesignerTom)

The Wireframe:

• How to balance accessibility with business realities
• What’s the right font size for web?
• Designing for users with autism

The Pragmatic Approach to Accessibility in 2024

Let's talk accessibility. It's not just a buzzword—it's about creating digital experiences that *anyone* can use, regardless of their abilities. But let's get real: sometimes, accessibility can't be the top priority. Invest all your resources into perfecting accessibility now...and you might not have a product to make accessible later.

The key? Set a reasonable bar for accessibility now, laying the groundwork for a more inclusive product down the line. So, how do we push accessibility forward while keeping our product alive and kicking? Let's dive into three ways to find that accessibility sweet spot →

1. Get stakeholders on board

In our current climate of efficiency and budget cuts, making a strong business case for accessibility is more important than ever. Don't preach to your stakeholders about morals—show them how accessibility expands markets, boosts SEO, and mitigates legal risks. Drawing from Vitaly Friedman's insights, here's how to counter common objections:

1. "There's no business value": Point out the 1.3 billion people globally who could benefit, controlling $6.9 trillion in annual disposable income. Accessibility aligns with goals to increase leads and engagement.
2. "It won't help us win the market": Emphasize that accessibility features often become mainstream benefits. Think voice control or auto-complete—originally for accessibility, now used by everyone.
3. "Let's add it later": Stress that early implementation is far more cost-effective than retrofitting. It's not just about saving money—it's about avoiding expensive redesigns and potential lawsuits down the line.

Use data, showcase legal risks, and map accessibility needs directly to your product. Start with small, impactful tests to demonstrate value. It's about showing how accessibility can cut costs, boost revenue, and open new markets—all while building a better product for everyone.

2. Make accessibility part of your workflow

The reality is, designers can nail color contrasts, but we can't control if a developer implements that form field to work with a screen reader. Accessible experiences rely on clear communication between designers and engineers.

The trick? Start annotating your designs from an accessibility perspective. Some resources to help you get started:

• ​Include is a tool built by the eBay design team to have accessibility considerations included during the design phase of any project.
• ​This article walks you through how to thoughtfully document for screen reader UX.
• Automate production of page and component design specifications (“specs”) of selected components, instances and frames with the EightShape plugin.

3. Familiarize yourself with the latest WCAG accessibility guidelines

The release of WCAG 2.2 in October 2023 brings new guidelines that designers and developers need to know. Here are some five key updates you can start with and how to implement them:

1) Focus Visibility: Don't obscure focused elements with sticky headers or modals. Focus should always be visible, at least partially (AA).

Tip: Use a :focus-visible CSS selector to style focus states without affecting mouse users.

2) Dragging Movements: Always offer UI controls for dragging movements. Allow users to click/tap on an item, "pick it up," move it, and "drop" it.

Tip: Implement keyboard controls for drag-and-drop interactions. Allow users to select an item with the spacebar and move it with arrow keys.

3) Target Size: Click/pointer elements should be at least 24x24px, or provide sufficient spacing around each target.

Tip: Use padding to increase the clickable area of small elements without changing their visual size.

4) Redundant Entry: Avoid making users re-enter the same data. Auto-populate repeated content or allow previous input to be selected.

Tip: Implement smart defaults and remember user preferences across sessions.

5) Accessible Authentication: Set up accessible auth methods like 2FA, magic links, passkeys, or password managers. Avoid CAPTCHAs or cognitive puzzles (AA).

Tip: Consider implementing WebAuthn for passwordless, accessible authentication.

Remember, WCAG 2.1 A + AA compliance is still the golden standard referenced in most laws and policies globally. Aim for this as a minimum, but don't stop there.

The bottom line: There will always be tension between idealism and pragmatism in accessibility. The key is finding that sweet spot, making meaningful improvements without breaking the bank or timeline. It's not just about compliance. It's about creating a product that more people can use and enjoy.

Start small, focus on the basics, and keep pushing forward. Your future self (and your users) will thank you.

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News, Tools, and Resources: Designing for Accessibility

• Looking to level up your accessibility expertise? Check out Sara Soueidan’s video course on Practical Accessibility​
• Oliver Schöndorfer's guide on "What's The Right Font Size For the Web?" offers practical tips for improving legibility.
• Check out this fantastic TED Talk on how inclusion shapes design by the former Principal Design Director of Inclusive Design at Microsoft, Kat Holmes.
• And while you’re on a Microsoft kick, their Hub for Inclusive Design is a great primer.
• This Color Contrast Cheat Sheet makes web accessibility a breeze.
• ​Learn how to nail accessible tap targets for icons, links, and buttons on mobile.
• Document accessible colors with this color matrix Figma plugin.

Got a great tool, podcast episode, idea, or something else? Hit reply and tell me what’s up.

Ask DesignerTom: Designing for Autistic Users

Question: "How can we make our designs more accessible for autistic users?" - Kelsey M.

Answer: Designing for autistic users isn't just a nice-to-have—it's a must-do if we're serious about inclusive design. With nearly 1% of the global population on the autism spectrum, this is a user group we can't ignore.

First off, every autistic person experiences the world differently, often with some pretty impressive superpowers in fast learning or laser-focused attention to detail. But they can also face major frustrations with our typically noisy, busy digital world.

Here's what to keep in mind:

What to Avoid:

• Bright, contrasting colors and high luminance
• Figures of speech and idioms (both verbal and visual)
• Hard-to-control animations (like those annoying blinking ads)
• Non-conventional scrolling behavior (sorry, parallax lovers)
• Time countdowns and artificial sense of urgency

What to Embrace:

• Show all content about a subject on a single page
• Use soft, muted colors and steer clear of pure white or black
• Add text labels to icons and avoid icon-only buttons
• Allow users to save and return to forms later
• Offer email/chat as communication options

And remember, autistic kids tend to be visual learners, while adults often prefer well-structured text. So mix it up.

Big shoutout to Vitaly Friedman for gathering some killer resources on designing for autism. If you want to dive deeper (and you should), check out his curated list.

The UX Tools Job Board

• Xometry, a digital manufacturing marketplace, is looking for a Senior UX Designer in LATAM to lead complex initiatives and prototype features for their platform.
• Join the team at Verily, an Alphabet subsidiary, as a UX Designer on the Data Platforms team to work on Verily’s precision health platform and its enterprise product offerings.
• Maven Clinic, the leading virtual clinic for women’s and family health, is seeking a Product Design Manager to set the vision for their Care Delivery team.

Hiring for a design role, or know someone who is? Submit it here to hit the inboxes of 75k+ talented designers.

Thanks for reading! Got thoughts on balancing accessibility with business needs? Hit reply and let me know.

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