Newsletter

Good design is accessible.
Issue 10-2025

Mit Domingos de Oliveira (netz-barrierefrei.de):

Menschen, die im Design arbeiten, wollen eigentlich Barrierefreiheit. Oder sie sollten es wollen. Schließlich sagt niemand: „Hm, dieses Design soll alle erreichen – außer Menschen, die farbenblind sind oder Ältere, die Schwierigkeiten haben, Inhalte mit geringen Kontrasten zu erkennen.“ 

Das Problem liegt übrigens oft nicht beim Dienstleister, sondern im Corporate Design. Farben und Kontraste sind dort häufig wie in Stein gemeißelt – die Bibel des Unternehmens, unveränderbar wie die Worte einer göttlichen Entität. Doch wenn sich selbst Religionen weiterentwickeln können, dann sollten das auch Designer:innen und Corporate Designs. Niemand interessiert sich ernsthaft für eine minimal andere Schattierung von Grün. Sehr wohl aber dafür, wenn Inhalte schlicht nicht lesbar sind.

Das größte Problem: In vielen Fällen dürfen Agenturen oder interne Teams das Corporate Design aus markenrechtlichen Gründen gar nicht verändern. Farbdefinitionen, Logos und Gestaltungsrichtlinien sind oft markenrechtlich geschützt. Das ist nachvollziehbar – aber es macht Barrierefreiheit schwieriger. Die Lösung liegt daher häufig nicht im einzelnen Projekt, sondern in der strategischen Weiterentwicklung des Corporate Designs selbst. Barrierefreiheit muss hier als Teil der Markenidentität mitgedacht werden – nicht als Störung, sondern als Qualitätsmerkmal.

Interesting articles

A look at the complexity of contrasts: How highly visible design is not just a light-dark problem and what modern models like APCA can achieve. Deep Dive: Contrasts and Digital Accessibility

How can accessibility be permanently integrated into everyday business operations? This article presents strategies ranging from responsibility and tools to audits. Integrate digital accessibility into the organization

A philosophical discussion of the question of whether and under what conditions the demand for accessibility is justified. The demand for accessibility as a moral and philosophical problem

A report and analysis of experiences with AI to support blind people, where the risks lie, and what should be improved in the future. Blindness and Artificial Intelligence – Opportunities and Risks

The state market surveillance authority ensures that products and services are accessible – it has now started its work. Market surveillance agency of the federal states for the accessibility of products and services

An analysis of the current digital skills gap: Why many people cannot keep up with the pace of digitalization and how educational measures should respond. digital skills – digital skills gap

If you ever need to test websites in protected environments like Citrix, a handy tool bookmarklet called BAAT helps to detect barriers. tools.caat.report

A model for understanding the threats to web accessibility – which actors, technologies and scenarios are particularly critical and how to address them. A threat model for accessibility on the web

Using animations correctly: Why less is sometimes more and how moving elements can be designed meaningfully and accessibly. You Don't Need Animations

What does a web world with minimal click effort look like, and what role does accessibility play in the AI-mediated web?

Accessibility in a Zero-Click Web: Preparing for an AI-Mediated Future

Tips and challenges for accessible user guidance on Wear OS: What programmers and designers should pay attention to.

Wear OS Accessibility Considerations

Making complex data understandable: Strategies to make statistics, charts and large datasets accessible to everyone. How to Make Complex Data Accessible for Users with Disabilities

How AI can revolutionize accessibility testing: An overview of automated procedures, opportunities and limitations. Using AI To Redefine Software Accessibility Testing

Advances in AI for sign language: Why collaboration is crucial in automatic sign language processing.

Advancing Sign Language Artificial Intelligence: It Takes Two to Tango

A comprehensive approach to cognitive accessibility: principles, models and methods for improving accessibility for people with cognitive impairments. A General Approach to Cognitive Accessibility (PDF)

Good news of the month

This Chrome add-on allows you to simulate various barriers such as visual or color vision deficiencies in order to test websites realistically.

Simulating Accessibility (Chrome Extension)

Making music accessible to everyone: Braille stickers can make sheet music accessible to blind and visually impaired people.

Making Music Available for Everyone with Music Braille Stickers

Amazon is expanding its customer service in the US and now also offers support in sign language – an important step for inclusion.

Amazon starts offering customer service in sign language

The gaming platform Steam is introducing new filters: users can search for games by difficulty level, control type, or other accessibility tags.

Steam Accessibility Tags for Game Search

Starbucks is making its cafes more accessible and inviting – a recent example shows how design and inclusion go hand in hand.

Starbucks Cafe Renovations Accessible

Accessibility is gaining visibility in the entertainment industry: Several series focusing on disability have won Emmy awards.

Disability-Focused Shows Win Emmys

Filmmaker Namya Chadha translates hearing impairments into a visual language, thus telling new stories about perception and identity.

Filmmaker Namya Chadha Turns Hearing Impairments Into A Visual Language

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