Inclusivity has become an increasingly popular concept over the later 2000s, especially in 2018 and 2019. This includes everything from politics to television shows to films…and we are now seeing inclusivity in digital design. As the world moves forward to more inclusivity, website design agencies have started to take note of this and are moving toward an inclusive website design that is accessible by everyone.Â
If you are working with a website design agency it is important to consider inclusivity in the design. You might not be aware of consumers in your audience that are differently-abled and may need to use your website in a different way to other consumers. Accessibility is vital in today’s age, and a large portion of the younger generation demands it from brands. Below we take a deeper look at what inclusive web design is.Â
What Is Inclusive Design, Anyway?
Before you go ahead and tell your website design agency that you want an inclusive website, you will need to understand the concept of inclusive design first. In simple terms, inclusive design involves designing everyday products and services in such a way that they are accessible and usable by as many people as possible.Â
This means that the design considers the needs of differently-abled people from the start of the design process. From conceptualisation to completed products, the design will take into consideration disabilities and special needs. In terms of a website design process, this means that colour will be considered carefully, the layout will be more intuitive, and the content will be created so that screen readers can easily read it.Â
What Is Website Accessibility?
Now that you have a better idea of what inclusive design is, it is time to learn a little more about web or website accessibility. Accessibility is one of the main goals of inclusive website design and should be one of the goals of your website design agency.Â
What it means is that your website is designed in such a way that it is approachable, understandable, and usable by those users who might have physical or mental disabilities. For example, the Royal Society For Blind Children has a website that can easily be changed to suit the different vision needs of its users.Â
There are different aspects you will need to consider for your inclusive website design, especially if you wish to appeal to a wide and diverse audience. The disabilities or issues that you will need to take into account include the following:
- auditory
- cognitive
- neurological
- physical
- speech
- Visual
Improving your website to be accessible to these users will also improve it for others, such as those who might be using a smaller screen to browse your website or those who are experiencing hearing loss due to ageing.Â
How To Make Your Website More Inclusive
Clear And Easy Layout
One of the most important aspects of inclusive website design is that your layout should be clear and easy to navigate for all users. Having cluttered pages that have non-logical groups of information will make it difficult for page readers to read, and users who might use these tools will find it increasingly difficult to navigate your site. Similarly, if users are enlarging the text, they might find it confusing to find your menu is not laid out in a manner that makes sense.Â
No Unnecessary Restrictions
Some marketing companies might suggest putting up a paywall or a sign-up form for some of your content, and while this does work in enticing normally-abled consumers to sign up, it can cause those with disabilities to have problems accessing your website. Websites should be effortless to use, allowing consumers to continue their user journey without any restrictions.Â
Easy-To-Understand Links
A vital part of having an inclusive website design is using links that are easy to understand and that make sense. For example, if a link from the keyword “cat toys” takes the user to a page for dog food, the user will be extremely confused. The anchor text should also be a meaningful description of what the link is, so that users can understand the flow of your content.Â
Build Bigger Buttons
Have you ever been onto a website and tried to find the Contact Us button, only to see it is tiny and almost invisible? Having small buttons for your calls-to-action will not only lose you clicks, but it will also lose you website traffic too. Your buttons should be large enough to be easily seen by those with normal vision and should not be confusing or unscalable on smaller screens.Â
Take A Walk In Your User’s Shoes
A sure-fire way to create an inclusive website is to think about the design form the point of view of the user. A confusing layout, dull colours, and links that do not make sense can wreak havoc on the user experience of differently-abled consumers.Â
Having a clean, simple layout without any content or user restrictions, and using bigger buttons will help to make your website better to use for everyone online. If you would like a website designed for your business that everyone can use, speak to Netmechanic today to find out how we can help you.Â
