Designing a new website can be exciting — bold visuals, sleek layouts, and powerful messaging all come into play. But in our increasingly digital world, there’s something even more important than aesthetics: ensuring that everyone can use and enjoy your site.
An inclusive digital experience isn’t just a “nice-to-have” anymore — it’s expected. Whether your audience includes people with visual, hearing, cognitive, or mobility impairments, building a website that removes barriers and promotes equal access is essential.
Key accessibility best practices every organisation should follow in 2025 and beyond.
Choose brand colours with accessibility in mind
Around 3 million people in the UK are colour blind, and over 2 million live with sight loss. If your colour palette lacks sufficient contrast, essential information like CTAs or navigation may be missed entirely.
Use tools like WebAIM Contrast Checker or Chrome extensions to assess your palette. Aim for high-contrast colours for text and UI elements, reserving lower-contrast tones only for decorative purposes.
Use readable fonts and scalable text
Small or decorative fonts may align with brand aesthetics, but can make your content unreadable for many users. Use a minimum font size of 16pt for body text, and ensure it scales responsively.
For legibility:
- Stick to a maximum of 50–65 characters per line
- Avoid long blocks of text
- Choose clear, sans-serif fonts with good spacing
Break up content for scannability
We read differently online. Help users absorb your content with:
- Short paragraphs
- Bullet points
- Clear subheadings
- Pull quotes or callouts
This improves comprehension for users with cognitive disabilities and makes content easier for everyone to digest, especially on mobile.
Provide Alt Text for all images
Alt tags are crucial for people using screen readers. Without them, an image may be reduced to a file name or ignored altogether.
Great alt text:
- Describes the image meaningfully
- Adds context if the image is complex (e.g. infographics)
- Supports the surrounding content
It also contributes to better SEO — a win-win.
Include captions and transcripts for video content
Captions aren’t just for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. They're essential for users:
- Watching without sound
- With different language preferences
- Who process information better through reading
Adding video transcripts supports comprehension and boosts content accessibility across search engines.
Avoid jargon and use plain language
Not everyone speaks your industry’s language, and not all users speak English as a first language. Keep your content:
- Free of acronyms (or explain them)
- Simple and clear
- Supported by visuals, where possible
This benefits users with learning disabilities, non-native speakers, and those who simply want to get to the point fast.
Enable keyboard-only navigation
Some users can't use a mouse and rely on keyboard controls like the tab key to move through your site. Ensure:
- All interactive elements are keyboard-accessible
- There are clear focus states
- Navigation is intuitive
This also improves mobile accessibility and supports users with mobility challenges.
Design forms with care
Forms are essential but often overlooked. Make them accessible by:
- Labelling every input clearly
- Offering field instructions or examples
- Minimising error-prone design patterns
- Testing with screen readers
Everyone should be able to complete your forms without assistance.
Test with real users — not just tools
Automated accessibility checkers are helpful, but they don’t replace user testing. Include a diverse group of users in your design process to identify real-world barriers and insights.
Test:
- Contrast and readability
- Mobile and desktop navigation
- Screen reader compatibility
- Different connection speeds and devices
Think beyond compliance: Build for digital inclusion
Compliance with WCAG guidelines or legal standards like the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and Equality Act 2010 is important. But inclusion is more than box-ticking — it’s about creating websites that empower.
From older users learning to navigate online for the first time to digitally excluded communities accessing services remotely, a truly inclusive site opens doors.
Final thoughts: The ROI of accessibility
Accessible design improves UX for everyone, not just disabled users. It boosts SEO, increases conversions, and reflects positively on your brand.
Studies show 71% of users with disabilities leave a site if it’s not accessible. That’s not just a missed opportunity — it’s a missed responsibility.
At Digital Wonderlab, we believe accessibility is fundamental to great digital design. Whether you're planning a new website or auditing an existing one, now is the time to build a better digital future for all.
