2020
Eva
enhanced visual access
Accessibility is an important factor in creating a comprehensive user experience for all in the user-centred design process of graphical interfaces. Using visual limitations as an example, my research explores the challenges UX designers face with integrating accessibility into their work process and how these can be prevented. As a basis, the designers' awareness and level of knowledge are analysed and related to each other. In addition, it is illuminated to what extent awareness-raising offers an opportunity for improved integration. The results show that a low awareness of barriers and the low level of knowledge are decisive for a low integration of accessibility in the user-centred design process. As a solution, a barrier assistant is presented that offers assistance for barrier-free implementation of digital products in digital projects.
APPROACH
In a qualitative study, user experience and visual designers with different professional experiences are interviewed about their experiences and approaches regarding the inclusion and use of accessibility.
TARGET GROUP
Research
8 Interviews
4 Senior Designers | 4 Junior Designers
24-53 years old
1.5-26 years work experience
24-53 years old
1.5-26 years work experience
3 categories
Awareness
The category describes whether there is an idea of what barriers are and why they should be avoided.
The category describes whether there is an idea of what barriers are and why they should be avoided.
Knowledge
The category describes the level of knowledge about accessibility and how familiar the designers are with the tools to create an accessible design/concept.
The category describes the level of knowledge about accessibility and how familiar the designers are with the tools to create an accessible design/concept.
Integration
This category analyses the integration of accessibility into a project.
This category analyses the integration of accessibility into a project.
EVALUATION
The results illustrate that low awareness of barriers and the low level of knowledge are crucial for low inclusion of accessibility in the user-centred design process. For this reason, the assumption that integration can be strengthened by raising awareness of the topic is further explored through the development of a barrier wizard.
Based on this finding, a concept is then developed, which is examined on the basis of a prototype assistant by means of an inductive usability test with five test persons.
CONCEPT
It is to be expected that access to a user who represents different disabilities and can additionally contribute professional knowledge on accessibility is not possible in every product development. For this reason, a digital alternative presents itself. The digital barrier assistant should make it possible to convey information for different barriers empathically and in the project context. The change of perspective is made possible by an avatar that uses questions to define which criteria are important for a project. These criteria are illustrated by examples and supplemented by thematically in-depth sources and information. This is to prevent design solutions based solely on a designer's skills, known as skill bias. The aim is to understand how a person with a disability interacts with a digital interface through a change of perspective. The focus here is on directly sensing, seeing and experiencing the barriers through examples. For this purpose, the format of the checklist is explicitly not chosen, but background knowledge is conveyed to the designer via coherent information. In this way, the designer understands how accessible design works and how to achieve/argue for it. The aim is to create the deepest possible automated integration in projects through in-depth knowledge.
TARGET CRITERIA
- Available at any time
- Possible waiver of a sponsor user in the first steps
- Clarification of the necessity of accessibility
- Assistance in implementing accessibility
- Assistance in the design process
- Applicability at the beginning and later stages of product development
- Assistance with project preparation
- Overview of criteria and sources of information
- Applicable before a project and within a project
- Assistance in identifying project priorities
- Assistance with presentation/argumentation to the customer
- Possible waiver of a sponsor user in the first steps
- Clarification of the necessity of accessibility
- Assistance in implementing accessibility
- Assistance in the design process
- Applicability at the beginning and later stages of product development
- Assistance with project preparation
- Overview of criteria and sources of information
- Applicable before a project and within a project
- Assistance in identifying project priorities
- Assistance with presentation/argumentation to the customer
Prototype
RESULT
Overall, the usability test showed that the concept of a digital assistant can be used to support the development of knowledge and awareness of accessibility. Thus, the assistant offers an opportunity to improve the integration of accessibility in the UX design process and to overcome the challenges that UX designers face when integrating accessibility into their work processes.
The assistant offers the opportunity to break down barriers through a change of perspective and enable those affected to regain their independence. By integrating accessibility, economic and social potentials are exploited.
The assistant offers the opportunity to break down barriers through a change of perspective and enable those affected to regain their independence. By integrating accessibility, economic and social potentials are exploited.
THE SOLUTION - EVA "ENHANCED VISUAL ACCESS"
1. Barrier Assistant Eva
2. website with a personal assistant that helps users in a playful way to learn accessible design through examples and explanations.
3. guides step by step through the UX process and helps the user to make the different parts of a project accessible.
4. information about different barriers is communicated empathically in the context of the project
5. change of perspective
6. focus on direct perception, seeing and experiencing
7. gamification
2. website with a personal assistant that helps users in a playful way to learn accessible design through examples and explanations.
3. guides step by step through the UX process and helps the user to make the different parts of a project accessible.
4. information about different barriers is communicated empathically in the context of the project
5. change of perspective
6. focus on direct perception, seeing and experiencing
7. gamification
Prototype 2
Tools
In Kooperation mit IBM iX
