UI/Visual design
See the web accessibility guidance that’s relevant to user interface (UI)/visual design.
Note: Digital practitioners often perform a mix of design, development and testing activities. Even if you’re mainly a UI/visual designer, be sure to check out the other roles for guidance that’s relevant to the work you actually do.
What is UI/visual design?
User interface (UI)/visual design is about creating the look and feel of web pages using effective imagery, typography, space, layout and colour, while also ensuring that interactive elements are intuitive and easy to follow along.
Core skills and knowledge in UI/visual design include:
- graphic design (shapes, lines and spacing, as well as size, texture and colour of elements)
- interaction design (words, images, space, time, and behaviour)
- website navigation
- typography
- microcopy
- wireframes, mockups and user interface prototypes
- basic knowledge of HTML, CSS and Javascript
- user research
- analytics
- usability testing.
Relevant Web Content Types
The following aspects of making different Web Content Types accessible are typically part of the UI/visual design role.
- Buttons:
- Headings:
- Links:
- The difference between links and buttons — How to create a link
- Links: Colour and contrast
- Other accessibility considerations:
- Lists:
- Skip links
- Text content:
- Videos:
- Process for producing accessible videos
Relevant Knowledge Areas
The following web accessibility Knowledge Areas are directly relevant to the UI/visual design role.
Fundamental concepts in web accessibility
- What is web accessibility?
- Accessibility supported technologies
- Browsers, code and assistive technologies
- Semantics and markup
- Accessible names and descriptions
- Roles, states and properties