Design Critique and Iteration
Conducting a Design Critique Focused on Accessibility
This prompt helps teams conduct a design critique focused on accessibility, ensuring the product is inclusive and usable for all users, including those with disabilities. It evaluates how design elements support accessible interactions and adheres to standards like WCAG.
Responsible:
Product Design
Accountable, Informed or Consulted:
Design, Product, Engineering
THE PREP
Creating effective prompts involves tailoring them with detailed, relevant information and uploading documents that provide the best context. Prompts act as a framework to guide the response, but specificity and customization ensure the most accurate and helpful results. Use these prep tips to get the most out of this prompt:
Review existing accessibility guidelines, such as WCAG 2.1, and share them with participants.
Prepare the designs to be critiqued, including all interactive elements and workflows.
Identify specific accessibility areas to focus on, such as text readability or navigation.
THE PROMPT
Help conduct a design critique focused on accessibility for [specific product or feature]. Focus on:
Color Contrast: Evaluating whether text and interactive elements meet WCAG contrast requirements for readability.
Typography: Ensuring font sizes, weights, and line spacing are appropriate for users with visual impairments.
Interactive Elements: Assessing the size, spacing, and touch targets of buttons, links, and controls for ease of use.
Keyboard Navigation: Testing whether the design supports seamless navigation for keyboard-only users.
Screen Reader Compatibility: Reviewing labels, alt text, and ARIA roles to ensure compatibility with assistive technologies.
Provide recommendations for structuring the critique session, including tools (e.g., axe, Lighthouse, Stark) and strategies for integrating accessibility insights into design iterations. If additional details about the audience or platform requirements are needed, ask clarifying questions to refine the suggestions.
Bonus Add-On Prompts
Propose methods for testing visual and functional accessibility during the critique session.
Suggest techniques for incorporating accessibility best practices into future design decisions.
Highlight strategies for balancing accessibility with visual and functional design goals.
Use AI responsibly by verifying its outputs, as it may occasionally generate inaccurate or incomplete information. Treat AI as a tool to support your decision-making, ensuring human oversight and professional judgment for critical or sensitive use cases.
SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE
Focus the critique on specific user groups, such as users with visual or motor impairments.
Include methods for evaluating accessibility on multiple devices, like mobile and desktop.
Propose A/B testing of accessibility improvements to validate changes.
Highlight tools for automating accessibility checks during the critique process.
Add suggestions for integrating user feedback from accessibility testing into the critique.
WHEN TO USE
During the design phase to ensure accessibility standards are met.
To refine designs based on accessibility audits or user feedback.
When introducing new workflows or elements that impact usability for diverse users.
WHEN NOT TO USE
If the product is not designed to be user-facing or does not involve interactive elements.
When focusing solely on aesthetic design without addressing usability.