Level Up Your SaaS with Accessible Design

Definitions

Before diving into practical tips, let's make sure we're speaking the same language. Here are some key definitions to better understand the world of accessibility.

What is digital accessibility?

Digital accessibility is the art of designing websites, applications, and digital technologies that are usable by everyone, without exception. This means that every individual, regardless of their physical or cognitive abilities, should be able to:

• Perceive information: see images, hear sounds, understand content.
• Understand how the interface works and is organized.
• Navigate easily and intuitively within the platform.
• Interact with the various elements: click on buttons, fill out forms, use the features.
• Contribute to the content: share information, comment, actively participate.

Digital accessibility is not just a box to check to comply with the law. It is above all a win-win investment that benefits both your users and your business.

What does disability mean in the digital world?

When we talk about accessibility, we often think of people with "visible" disabilities. However, the reality is much broader and more nuanced. It is important to move away from this narrow view and understand that disability can take many forms and affect a much wider audience than we might imagine. It encompasses a wide range of people, particularly those who are visually impaired, hard of hearing, or have mobility impairments. But we must also consider:

• Cognitive disabilities: Dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders... These are often "invisible" disabilities, but they can significantly impact interaction with a digital interface.
• Temporary limitations: A broken arm, eye surgery, a noisy environment... These are all situations that can make it difficult to use a SaaS interface.
• Aging: Presbyopia, hearing loss, reduced dexterity... These are age-related limitations that affect a growing segment of the population.

What are assistive technologies?

These are tools used by people with disabilities to interact with digital systems. They include:

• Screen readers: These are software programs that read aloud the textual content of a screen for blind or visually impaired users.
• Screen magnifiers: These tools enlarge a portion of the screen for people who have difficulty reading small text.
• Alternative keyboards: These are devices adapted for people who have difficulty using a standard keyboard.
• Speech recognition software: This allows you to control a computer with your voice.

Tip 1: Adopt an "Accessibility First" Approach

“Accessibility first” is a design philosophy that places accessibility at the heart of the development process, not as an afterthought. In concrete terms, this means:

• Think accessibility from the very first wireframes and prototypes: By integrating accessibility constraints from the outset, you ensure that the architecture and navigation of your SaaS are robust and inclusive from the start.
• Consider the needs of all users from the design phase: Create user personas that represent the diversity of abilities, including people with disabilities.
• Integrate accessibility testing throughout the development process: Don't settle for an audit at the end. Regularly test the accessibility of your SaaS as it is being developed, using automated tools and user testing with people with disabilities.

Benefits of an "Accessibility First" Approach

• More robust and sustainable accessibility solutions: By integrating accessibility from the start, you avoid "patchwork" solutions after the fact, which are often costly and ineffective.
• A better user experience for everyone: An accessible design is an intuitive, clear, and easy-to-use design for everyone, regardless of their profile.
• Reduced development costs: Fixing accessibility issues upstream is much less expensive than fixing them once the SaaS is developed.

Tip 2: Design Clear and Intuitive Navigation

Imagine yourself lost in a maze with no directions. That's kind of how users feel when faced with a complex and poorly designed digital interface, especially those who rely on assistive technologies.

To ensure an optimal and inclusive user experience, your SaaS must offer clear, intuitive, and predictable navigation. Here's how:

1. Structure information logically and consistently:

• Use a clear heading hierarchy: Utilize a logical and consistent heading structure (H1 to H6) to organize content and facilitate scanning for screen reader users.
• Opt for clear and concise menus: Favor dropdown or side menus with clear and explicit labels. Avoid overly complex tabbed or "hamburger" menus, especially on mobile devices.
• Make navigation easy: Provide breadcrumbs to show users where they are within the site hierarchy and allow them to easily go back.

2. Use simple and accessible language:

• Choose short, precise terms: Avoid technical jargon or overly complicated sentences.
• Write descriptive links: Use links that clearly indicate their destination ("Learn more about our services" rather than "Click here").
• Provide relevant alternative text: Add descriptive alternative text for images, buttons, and other non-textual elements so they are understandable to screen reader users.

3. Offer alternative navigation options:

• Choose the right types of navigation within your interface.
• Integrate a powerful search engine: Allow users to quickly find the information they need using relevant keywords.
• Offer a sitemap: Provide an overview of the site architecture and its various sections, which is useful for users who prefer to navigate linearly.

Tip 3: Illuminate Your Interface Without Blinding Anyone (Master Colors and Contrasts)

Choosing colors for your SaaS interface is about more than just aesthetics. It plays a crucial role in accessibility and the overall user experience. The colours must be chosen and set correctly as what we call a Color System. Poorly chosen colors and contrasts can make your interface illegible for many users, especially those who are visually impaired or colorblind.

1. Choose sufficient contrast between text and background:

• Minimum contrast: WCAG recommendations advise a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 between text and background for main content, and 3:1 for secondary text. For example, light gray text on a white background will have poor contrast and be difficult to read, while black text on a white background will offer optimal contrast.
• Verification tools: Use free online tools to check the contrast of your colors, such as Coolors or Contrast Checker.

2. Don't rely solely on color to convey information:

• Redundancy of information: If you use color to distinguish elements (buttons, links, error messages...), add additional visual cues (icons, shapes, text) to make them understandable to colorblind users. For example, instead of indicating a link only with a different color, add an underline or an icon to make it more visible. For an error message, don't just display the text in red, also add a warning icon.
• Alternative text: For images containing important information, provide an alternative text description that makes them understandable to screen reader users. For example, for a chart showing revenue growth, write a text description summarizing the key data ("Revenue increased by 15% in the last quarter").

3. Choose a harmonious and inclusive color palette:

• Favor neutral and soothing colors: Avoid overly bright or saturated colors, which can be harsh on the eyes. For example, opt for pastel shades or shades of gray over bright and flashy colors.
• Test your palette with color blindness simulators: Online tools such as Coblis or Color Oracle allow you to visualize your interface as it is perceived by people with different types of color blindness.
• In addition, considering Green UX principles can help you optimize your design to reduce energy consumption and improve sustainability.

Tip 4: Pay Attention to Typography and Layout

The typography and layout of your SaaS should not be left to chance. They directly influence the readability of your content and the user experience, especially for people with visual or cognitive impairments.

1. Choose a legible and accessible font:

• Favor sans-serif fonts: Arial, Helvetica, Verdana... are easier to read on screens, especially for people with dyslexia.
• Avoid overly stylized or decorative fonts: They can be difficult to decipher, especially at small sizes.
• Opt for a sufficiently large font size: The minimum recommended font size is 16 pixels for body text.

2. Pay attention to line height and character spacing:

• Give your text some breathing room: Tight line spacing makes reading difficult and uncomfortable. Opt for a line height of at least 1.5 times your font size.
• Adjust the spacing between letters: Spacing that is too tight or too loose can impair readability, especially for people with dyslexia.

3. Structure your content for easy reading:

• Use clear and concise headings and subheadings: They help to prioritize information and guide the reader.
• Break up your text into short, airy paragraphs: Long, dense blocks of text are off-putting and difficult to read, especially on screen.
• Highlight important information: Use bold text, bullet points, or boxes to highlight key points in your content.

Tip 5: Make Multimedia Content Accessible

Integrating multimedia content (images, videos, animations...) is an excellent way to make your SaaS more dynamic and engaging for your users. But for this content to be accessible to everyone, it is essential to design and integrate it correctly.

1. Images: Say it with words!

• Alternative text (alt attribute): Provide a relevant text description for each image, describing its content and function.
  • For example, for an illustrative image: "Photo of a smiling team working together in a bright office."
  • For example, for an icon: "Add to cart button."
• Decorative images: If an image is purely decorative and does not convey any essential information, you can leave the alt attribute empty or use the value "null".
• Infographics and charts: Provide a complete textual description of the key data, either as a caption or alternative text.

2. Videos: Subtitles and transcripts for all!

• Subtitles: Integrate synchronized subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as for people who watch the video without sound. Subtitles also help everyone to better focus on and absorb the content of the video.
• Transcriptions: Offer a full text transcript of the video for people who cannot or choose not to watch it.

3. Audio: Let the text speak!

• Transcriptions: Provide a full text transcript of audio content, such as podcasts, webinars, or voice messages.
• Audio descriptions: For videos or animations containing important visual information, provide an audio description that describes them in detail.

Tools and Resources:

• Subtitle generators: Tools like YouTube, Happy Scribe, and Veed.io can automatically generate subtitles, which you can then review and edit.
• Accessible video hosting platforms: Vimeo, YouTube, and Wooky offer built-in accessibility features such as subtitles and audio descriptions.

Tip 6: Think Adaptability Across All Devices (Mobile First)

These days, users access your SaaS from a multitude of devices: desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones... It is therefore essential that your interface adapts perfectly to each screen size, without compromising accessibility.

1. Adopt a "Mobile First" Approach

• Design for small screens first: Start by designing the interface for mobile devices, then adapt it to larger screens (tablets, computers).
• Prioritize information: Present the most important information first, and use drop-down menus or accordions to hide secondary content on small screens.
• Optimize the size of buttons and links: Make sure buttons and links are large enough to be easily clickable on a touchscreen device.

2. Use responsive CSS

• Flexibility and adaptability: A well-implemented Design System with size variables that adapt to screen width will allow you to create a fluid interface that automatically adapts to the screen size.
• Responsive grid: Use a flexible grid to organize content and ensure that elements are displayed correctly on all screen sizes.

3. Test accessibility on different devices

• Device simulators: Use device simulation tools, such as those built into web browsers or software like Figma, to preview how your SaaS will look on different screen types.
• User testing: Conduct user tests with people using various devices, including people with disabilities, to identify potential accessibility issues.

Conclusion

Forget the misconceptions: accessibility is not a creative straightjacket that stifles the design of your SaaS. Nor is it just a "nice to have" reserved for philanthropic companies. Accessibility is a strategic investment that benefits everyone, and its return on investment is far greater than you might think.

An accessible interface is, above all, an interface that is intuitive, ergonomic, and pleasant to use for everyone, regardless of their abilities. Optimized contrasts, clear navigation, alternative content... these are all elements that benefit all users. It's the guarantee of an optimal user experience that builds customer loyalty, strengthens your brand image, and boosts your conversions.

Don't wait any longer to make accessibility a priority in the development of your SaaS. It's a win-win choice for your users and your business. In addition to ensuring accessibility, be sure to review these 10 crucial points before launching your SaaS product.

Ready to make your SaaS a model of accessibility and user experience?

At merveilleUX, our UX Design experts are here to guide you! We perform comprehensive ergonomic and accessibility audits of your platform to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your interface and offer concrete, personalized solutions to make it accessible to everyone.

Benefit from our expertise to:

• Improve the user experience for all your customers, without exception.
• Increase your conversions and build user loyalty.
• Strengthen your brand image and stand out from the competition.
• Comply with current accessibility standards.

We know how hard it can be to choose a Digital Product Design Agency to work with. Do not hesitate tocontact us today to discuss your project and receive a personalized quote.

Together, let's create a more inclusive and successful SaaS!