You might already know that ergonomics and accessibility, while distinct, share key similarities that play a crucial role in your design – whether for a digital or physical product. Understanding how to effectively integrate these two aspects can significantly enhance your user’s experience.
Today at Telos, we want to offer you some valuable insights on how to integrate and interplay ergonomics and accessibility into your design process to improve revenue and retention.
First, let’s talk about Ergonomics. This design principle ensures that your design is not only easy to use but also mentally and physically comfortable for the user, and for this you should always consider the platform on which your users will engage with your product. This understanding helps you visualize how they’ll hold, see, and interact with it.
Think about where they will click or tap, how much effort it takes to reach menus, how pedagogic your text is to guide them through, and how easily they can find the actions they need. Additionally, reflect on how mentally taxing or efficient the user experience is. Remember, users are investing their time in your product, so your goal should be to minimize strain and make it effortless for them to accomplish their tasks without feeling frustrated or fatigued.
On the other hand, we have Accessibility, which ensures your product is usable by individuals of all abilities. This means considering the needs of those facing visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive challenges.
Your design should feature, for example, clear typography that is easy to display and read across various devices and straightforward images,complemented by descriptive text that can be read aloud by screen readers. Additionally, ensure that your UI elements – such as buttons and controls – are easy to identify, understand, and interact with. One tip is to rely on common iconography that gives coherent feedback of what an action does.
Speaking of UI elements, you might have heard the phrase, “this design fails the contrast test.” This refers to a handy web tool that helps designers assess whether their product is accessible to people with visual impairments, such as color blindness or low vision. By using this tool, you can ensure your design meets essential contrast standards, fostering a more inclusive experience.
In summary, when you prioritize both ergonomics and accessibility, you create a welcoming environment for everyone using your product.
This not only fosters customer loyalty but also demonstrates your commitment to inclusivity. In a world where digital products are integral to daily life, embracing these principles can set your product apart, making it more impactful and meaningful.
Ultimately, a well-designed product is one that caters to everyone, ensuring that all users can navigate and enjoy a user experience that is a delight to use, which you can measure using a framework called “The UX Pyramid”, which emphasizes that before worrying about advanced features or aesthetics, a product must first meet the basic functional and usability needs.
