Accessible design systems: the basis for an inclusive digital future

What is digital accessibility and why is it important?

Digital accessibility means designing digital content and services so that they are accessible and usable for everyone. In a digital world, accessibility is crucial for equal opportunities and inclusion. Access to information and services determines how fully people can participate in society. Without accessible services, people with disabilities face major hurdles. But older people and those with temporary impairments also benefit from such services.

For companies and organisations, implementing digital accessibility means expanding their target group and strengthening their image as inclusive and forward-thinking.

What is an accessible design system and what can it offer?

An accessible design system focuses on accessibility for all from the very beginning of the development process of digital products. Accessibility is not seen as a subsequent adaptation, but as an integral part of the conception and design.

Taking accessibility into account at an early stage lays the foundation for an accessible application and significantly reduces the effort required for later changes. A well-thought-out design system, based on atomic units such as buttons or font styles and extended to templates and standardised workflows, offers numerous advantages: it ensures consistency, reusability and efficiency in the design of digital interfaces – across different projects.

The structure of such design systems starts with the smallest building blocks (atoms), which are combined to form larger components (molecules, organisms). One example is the accessible design of buttons through sufficient contrast, clear labelling and focus indicators for keyboard users. Similarly, font styles should be defined to support users with visual impairments by providing sufficiently large and legible typography.

These components in turn feed into templates that define the layout and structure of entire pages. A template can ensure that navigation elements are screenreader-friendly by providing them with appropriate Accessible Rich Internet Applications (ARIA) labels. Form fields should be supplemented with descriptive labels and helpful hints to make it easier for people with cognitive impairments to find their way around, for example.

By compiling templates for recurring processes, entire workflows can be mapped and standardised. For example, a registration workflow could ensure that progress is clearly visible on each page and that alternative navigation options such as ‘back’ and ‘forward’ buttons are easily accessible. Similarly, a standardised checkout workflow could ensure keyboard operability and comprehensible error messages in forms.

This results in visually and functionally consistent designs that are also accessible.

The design system serves as a common basis for designers, developers and other parties involved, which promotes collaboration and reduces misunderstandings. Clear guidelines and documentation on accessibility ensure that accessibility can be implemented efficiently. The design system not only facilitates the development of new products, but also ensures that accessibility is consistently taken into account – from individual components to entire workflows.

A barrier-free design system thus lays the foundation for an inclusive environment in which digital applications can be used by everyone on an equal footing – regardless of limitations such as visual or hearing impairments, motor impairments or cognitive disabilities.

Requirements for a barrier-free design system

A barrier-free design system is based on the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), the EU Directive 2016/2102 and the German Barrier-Free Information Technology Ordinance (BITV). The WCAG define internationally recognised standards that include the principles of perceptibility, operability, understandability and robustness. These standards include requirements such as:

• text alternatives for non-text content,
• sufficient contrast (e.g. a minimum ratio of 4.5:1),
• full keyboard operability and
• simple language for better comprehensibility.

The BITV complements these standards and obliges public bodies in Germany to design their digital offerings in accordance with these requirements.

Collaboration and quality assurance

Close collaboration between all parties involved in a development process is crucial to effectively integrate accessibility. Systematic quality assurance plays a central role here, as it ensures that the final products are accessible. An accessible design system increases the benefits of collaboration as well as the efficiency of quality assurance, as it is scalable and can be reused. This makes it easier to integrate accessibility into a diverse product landscape or larger team structures.

Conclusion

By integrating accessibility at the very beginning of a development process – at the concept and design stage – not only is the user experience improved for everyone, but it is also reusable via the accessible design system.

Accessible design systems promote a digital world that excludes no one – and thus not only create real added value for users and society, but also offer practical added value by reducing development effort and meeting legal requirements.