inclusive design for UX
MAR 20th 2026
WEEK 6
- accessibility and UX
- testing and user feedback
- effective enhancements
inclusive design design for everyone
notes
- accessibility often associated with physically obvious impairments which does not cover the full spectrum
- abilities or disabilities are more complex and nuanced, they can also be temporary as well as permanent
- ensuring easy use of alternative devices/apps will benefit all site visitors equally
Ensure access to functions via keyboard - test by using tab key to navigate site
Provide captions/transcripts for visual/audio content - provide text alternatives for images
Add alternative versions of content - use visuals/icons and text in combination
Reminders
- always optimise all media before uploading
- after upload to server add all details immediately, e.g. alternative text for images
- offer alternatives as fitting, e.g. transcripts for video/audio
- test via tab key to ensure easy access for all
user centred design design for delight
notes
- user experience builds on the foundation of accessible design, adding more depth
- consideration of the complexities of people and their current situations
- research and user testing to guide UX design
- good UX will mean a pleasurable experience, meeting the needs of target group
- recurring cycle of work for best results: test - review - iterate
Content out for a better site and theme preview
A quick reminder on why the content out approach will yield the best results:
By using a CMS (content management system), i.e. WordPress, all additions of content (text/images) are uploaded and added to the database. This means your content is the foundation of the site and remains untouched by any visual presentation. Once in the database, you are free to edit/remove any content - and you can control what is visible on the site (via publish) and what is not (draft).
Remember that before you can preview a theme and see it in its full glory, your site has to have published content. Only with published content and fitting settings for layout and menu will you be able to make a choice.
Working with themes & mindful choices for more than just aesthetics.
starting points
-
content first!!
add your actual content to your website, neatly organising your posts into categories as you publish them.
NOTE: without content there'll be little to preview and you will not be able to judge whether a theme would work or not. -
understand layout options via blocks
before you even begin to look at themes or plugins, experiment with the given options in the editor to create your layouts and format your content. Much can be achieved without the use of specific themes or plugins. -
choose wisely!
browse your options and preview them without installing them first. Read the info and check on any requirements listed. Stay focused on your site's requirements and don't let the 'shiny shiny' distract you from your mission!
CAUTION: avoid any themes that require additional plugins to be installed. They will likely be poorly configured and heavy/slow loading. -
understand your chosen theme's settings
before you even begin to look at themes or plugins, experiment with the given options in the editor to create your layouts and format your content. Much can be achieved without the use of specific themes or plugins.
questions to ask
- what kind of design will present an effective website and appeal to your target group?
- which content elements (if any) require bespoke presentation, e.g. photo with caption?
- what kind of typesetting will work best?
- which colour scheme is fitting context and audience? Does the theme include these options?
points for consideration
- target group, their browsing habits and likes/dislikes
- quantity and structure of content
- final site plan with clear sections / sub-sections
- media types: images / video / audio / supplementary downloads
related reading
Useful links & themes & royalty-free image libraries
Theme offerings
- WordPress themes by Automattic, the team behing WP — hence guaranteed to perform and work well.
- search... for open source themes to find various listings of collected themes; do take the time to read reviews as well as checking out the theme's details.
Don Norman: 3 Ways good design makes you happy
Your site's design
Today's the day to start getting your ducks in a row about the look and feel of your site. Let's test some themes, and see what options you'll have.
concepts to explore (repeated from last week)
texture ✱ space ✱ people ✱ mission/goal/message ✱ sense of time/urgency ✱ emotion ✱ re/action ✱ mood ✱ light ✱ focus
to-do list
-
find a visual direction
Experiment with themes and aim to find some options for your project. -
take screenshots
With the theme in preview, or installed and applied - take screenshots and add them to a new post alongside some notes on how you'd like your website to look and feel. -
experiment with blocks
While you make note of possible theme options via screenshots and text, experiment with different layout options. Play with the formatting and save your work as future reference.
footnotes
One way to make your content more accessible is to add footnotes to explain complex or jargon terms, acronyms or abbreviations. See this example which uses parenthesis to define 'CMS' within a sentence (this will work with the FootNotes Made Easy plugin).
WordPress is a very popular CMS (( Content Management System )).
Presentation of footnotes will be automatic when published. The text inside the pair of double parenthesis (( ... )) is then presented below the content, shown as numbered list of linked notes. Options can be changed within the settings.
For details - check the following post:
Footnotes Made Easy
to-do list
- complete 'about' page
review your current text drafts and edits and decide on final tone of language - add optimised images to your content
experiment and practice editing and optimising your images - check text alternatives
explore the media library and its settings, checking that all your uploaded images have set alternative text - plan your references and credits
For your final site, any externally sourced content (such as images) has to reference its source and credit the original creator. This could be done via footnotes, or published as separate page.
Confirming your brief
Today, MAR 20th 2026 by 1pm, is the deadline for confirming your brief and you will hopefully be already working on your content at this point. Time to review your plans and your content so far. Keep in mind your users and your site's aim and make notes for revision and edits.
your message - your mission
Thanks for your emails and proposals so far, some excellent ideas :)
And if you've not done so already, write up an email and confirm your brief choice, submitting your self-written brief proposal to me.
to-do list
- finalise your site plan
review your mind map, decide on your final content structure - check your notes and content
focus on the mission of your website and keep in mind your target group - continue work on content production
write/edit/review your content text and media, check on accessibility aspects, such as the alt text - email Prisca*
submit brief proposal /or/ confirm your choice of given brief