Project Overview:
A11y designs is a product designed for a nonprofit I cofounded which aims to increase the awareness of universal design amongst designers in Africa and eventually the world. it is an all-in-one platform that merges principles of universal design with the power of community-driven feedback and expert insights.
Goal:This app aims to help designers, architects, and developers ensure that their designs—whether digital or physical—are inclusive and accessible to all.
Role on Project: Lead UX designer & UX Researcher, Graphic Artist, Brand & Content creator.
Responsibilities: User research, wire framing, prototyping, creating of mockups, conducting usability test, etc.
Challenges:
Often, products and environments are designed without considering the full spectrum of human diversity, particularly people with disabilities.
A11y Designs provides a platform where inclusivity is central to the design process, enabling designers to create products that are usable and beneficial for people with a wide range of abilities.
- Other Challenges this app addresses are:
- the knowledge gap in understanding how to implement accessibility standards and inclusive design principles
- the difficulty for designers without disabilities to fully understand the challenges faced by users with disabilities.
User Research
Specializing in the intersection of design and accessibility, my user research delves deep into understanding the unique needs, preferences, and challenges faced by diverse user groups. With a holistic background spanning from architecture to UX design, my approach emphasizes creating inclusive environments—both digital and physical. Through meticulous analysis, empathy-driven testing, and a commitment to human-centered design, I aim to champion products and spaces that resonate universally, ensuring every individual feels seen, heard, and catered to.
ResearchAnalysis
User Personas
Name: Samuel | Age: 35 |
Education: M.Sc.
Arch Hometown: Abuja | Occupation: Architect
QUOTE:
“I want public spaces I create to be welcoming for everyone. Where do I start?”
GOALS:
- To design inclusive physical space that excludes no category of user.
- To be remembered as one who cared for the less privileged
PAIN POINTS:
- Lacks knowledge about accessibility standards, finds it hard to locate reliable resources.
Name: Aisha | Age: 25 |
Education: Digital Design
Hometown: Kano | Occupation: Entry UX Designer
QUOTE:
“I believe the digital world should be accessible to everyone. How can I ensure my designs reflect that?”
GOALS:
- To build a portfolio that showcases her dedication to inclusive design.
- To include people like my sister who is blind in the digital space
PAIN POINTS:
- While enthusiastic, she finds it challenging to gather consistent feedback on her designs, especially regarding inclusivity.
DesignProcesses
Ideation:
Ideas were generated by posing relevant questions aimed at addressing the frustrations of the personas. This involved asking "How Might We" questions and utilizing the Crazy 8's technique.
Wireframing & Prototypes
Wireframes were generated on Figma to show how I came about the design solutions
Usability Study
PARAMETERS
10 Participants
10 - 15 mins
Unmoderated usability study
Nigeria: Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar
AFFINITY
DIAGRAMS
At this point I took out some time to sort user feedback from the unmoderated usability study carried out
FINDINGS
6 out of 10 participants easily located the desired resources. However, four participants suggested having a better-organized resource section with filters
Feedback submission was smooth for all participants. However, three participants felt overwhelmed by the volume of feedback received.
7 out of 10 participants uploaded designs seamlessly. However, three participants were unclear about setting their designs for community feedback.
Mock Ups
The design is well-optimized for responsiveness across different devices and screen sizes for a consistent user experience.
The design elements are well sized for touch interaction, the goal is accessibility and
The UI is clean and minimalist, which is great for user focus and minimizing distractions. The use of white space is effective as it enables the content easy to read and visually appealing.
Accessibility
Considerations
Accessible Forms: Label all form fields clearly. Each input field has a corresponding <label> that screen readers can announce.
Colour and Contrast: I made use of WebAIM's Color Contrast Checker to ensure that my color choices meet the minimum contrast ratios set by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Alt text for Images: I provided alternative text for images so that users using screen readers might be able to navigate the site
IMPACT
By fostering a platform dedicated to accessibility in design, A11y Designs will shift the paradigm from designs that cater to the majority to designs that are inclusive for all, including users with disabilities. This inclusivity will ensure more individuals can effectively engage with both digital and physical environments.
LEARNINGS
Learnings: Effective design should not only be aesthetically pleasing but must primarily address and solve a problem, thereby benefiting others.