At Hippo we know that accessible and inclusive design is a pillar of good design, not just a tick-box exercise.
As a Lead UX Consultant, with over a decade of experience in a range of industries and organisations, here’s what I’ve learned about championing something that’s often seen as a ‘nice to have’.
1. Accessibility is an investment
People who aren’t familiar with human-centred design often think of accessibility as a cost. In fact as a proactive investment it reduces costs associated with retrofitting, loss of market share, and potential legal action.
For public sector clients like the NHS and government departments, it’s not only about compliance, it’s also about ethical design for public good.
Fixing or preventing issues earlier in the design process is vastly cheaper than correcting them post-launch. In fact, it can cost 30 times more.
2. Inclusive design maximises market reach
Advocating for accessibility means advocating for a larger user base. By addressing the needs of users with disabilities (approximately 15% of the world’s population), temporary limitations (e.g. a broken arm), or situational barriers (e.g. watching videos in a loud environment), clients open their services to everyone.
Imagine a high street bank turning away customers with guide dogs? That’s essentially what’s happening if a banking app isn’t accessible to users with visual impairments.
3. Accessibility is a core quality metric
Position accessibility as a critical quality metric, on par with performance and security, to elevate it beyond a compliance checklist item.
If a system is inaccessible, it is fundamentally broken for a significant portion of the population.
4. Inclusion is a moral imperative
While the business case is strong, the ethical duty to ensure equal access to information and services is key. Especially when consulting for public services. Government and healthcare clients must ensure every citizen has the ability to interact with vital services.
Compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), Equality Act, and European Accessibility Act (EAA) are the minimum requirement. The true goal is genuine inclusivity that goes beyond a to-do list.
5. Accessibility improves performance
Accessibility directly contributes to better Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Advocate for it as a technical best practice that improves site indexing and loading times, great news for all users — and the client’s bottom line.
6. Accessibility fosters innovation
Inclusive design often leads to innovative solutions, benefitting everyone.
Features originally designed for users with disabilities (e.g. closed captions, voice commands) have become mainstream. Designing for some often improves the experience for many.
7. Access to services should be democratic
When working with clients providing essential services, accessibility is about civic inclusion.
Inaccessible services create a digital divide, effectively barring citizens from managing their health, booking travel, applying for bank accounts, and more.
8. Diverse user research is non-negotiable
User research and testing should be conducted with a range of people, including those with lived experience of disabilities. This moves the conversation from abstract compliance to real-world impact.
Hearing directly from a person with a visual impairment about their experience is infinitely more powerful — and informative — than using a simulation tool.
9. Accessible design is not a blocker
Accessibility can and should be prioritised too. Designing everything for everyone isn’t realistic, but use data to inform your efforts.
Focus on issues that don’t meet WCAG Level A, or that affect the majority of your users. But make sure you do come back to things you’ve classed as a lower priority.
10. Integrating accessibility into your workflow
Accessibility should be embedded into design and development, not just part of a final check.Remember how much it costs to fix things later? Up to 30 times more.
Want some support making your products and services accessible?
