Designed for Everyone: Inclusive Experiences

Designing with accessibility in mind is not only about complying with the law, but also about doing what’s right. Over 61 million adults in the U.S. live with a disability, according to the CDC. That’s nearly one in four Americans. When you don’t design for them, you risk excluding a huge portion of your audience. Accessible design:

• Expands your reach and builds customer loyalty
• Improves usability for all users, not just those with disabilities
• Enhances your brand’s reputation for empathy and innovation
• Future-proofs your digital presence against legal risk

Best of all, it fosters a more inclusive and welcoming world where creativity, commerce, and communication are open to everyone. Creating accessible content ensures that people of all abilities can participate fully in digital life, engage with businesses, and enjoy creative experiences. It also reflects a brand’s values, demonstrating that empathy and innovation are closely intertwined.

The concept of designing for people with disabilities (sometimes referred to as accessible design, inclusive design, or universal design) is about more than just checking boxes. It’s about embracing diversity and crafting experiences that work for people who are blind, deaf, or hard of hearing, neurodivergent, or living with mobility limitations.

Let’s explore how this kind of thoughtful design applies across three creative disciplines (graphic design, website design, and video production) and how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides guidance and inspiration along the way.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. While the ADA was enacted before the digital revolution, courts and regulators have since interpreted it to include websites, mobile apps, and other digital spaces.

Title III of the ADA applies to “places of public accommodation,” which includes businesses that are open to the public. As more commerce and communication happen online, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has affirmed that websites and digital content fall under the ADA’s umbrella.

In 2022, the DOJ published guidance stating that businesses open to the public must ensure their websites are accessible to people with disabilities, referencing standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This applies to everything from e-commerce sites and restaurant menus to video content and online forms.

Let’s look at what this means in practice.

Good graphic design speaks volumes, but only if everyone can understand it. Accessible visual design means considering how people with different abilities will perceive and interact with your content. For example:

• Color contrast is critical for people with low vision or color blindness. WCAG recommends a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for body text.
• Typography choices affect readability. Sans-serif fonts, adequate spacing, and consistent formatting help users with dyslexia or cognitive disabilities.
• Alt text should accompany key visuals when they appear online so that screen reader users can understand their meaning.

Printed materials like brochures or signage should also consider tactile formats (like Braille or large print) and clear, legible layouts. Accessible design isn’t limiting; it’s an opportunity to be more creative and inclusive.

Accessible web design ensures that websites are navigable, readable, and interactive for everyone, including individuals who use assistive technologies such as screen readers, keyboard-only navigation, or voice control. Some best practices include:

• Semantic HTML that provides structure (like using proper heading levels and labels).
• Keyboard accessibility, ensuring all features can be used without a mouse.
• Descriptive link text ("Learn more about our services" instead of "Click here").
• Responsive design, which adapts well to screen magnification or different input devices.

Under the ADA, failing to provide an accessible website can be considered a form of discrimination. Numerous lawsuits and settlements in recent years have underscored the importance of compliance, particularly for businesses in the retail, hospitality, healthcare, and education sectors.

But accessibility shouldn’t be approached out of fear; it’s an opportunity to serve more people and create better user experiences. A well-designed accessible website is easier to navigate, loads faster, and performs better on search engines.

Video is one of the most powerful tools for storytelling, but without inclusive practices, it can leave millions of viewers out. Accessible video content includes:

• Captions for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These should be accurate, synchronized, and available for all spoken dialogue and important sound cues.
• Audio descriptions, which narrate visual elements for viewers who are blind or have low vision.
• Readable on-screen text with high contrast and legible fonts.
• Avoiding fast flashes or strobing effects that could trigger seizures or disorientation.

The ADA encourages accommodations in communication, particularly under Title II (for public services) and Title III (for businesses and nonprofits). Inclusive video production helps meet these standards while making content more engaging for everyone, including individuals in noisy environments or those who are non-native speakers.

Even social media videos, reels, and short-form content benefit from accessibility practices (such as burned-in captions or descriptive voiceovers), ensuring that your message lands clearly across platforms and audiences.

If you’re looking to elevate your brand while making it more inclusive, Hemisphere Design & Marketing is the team to call. Specializing in accessible design for print, digital, and video, Hemisphere combines creativity with compliance to ensure your message is clear, compelling, and available to all.

Whether you're launching a new website, producing a video campaign, or redesigning your visual identity, Hemisphere has the experience and passion to help you meet ADA standards while standing out in your industry. They don’t treat accessibility as a checkbox; they see it as a guiding principle for great design. Let’s design a world where everyone can participate fully. Because inclusive design isn’t just better design, it’s the future.