Accessible Design:
Why WCAG Standards
Matter
When we make digital content accessible, we're extending the reach of our communication and influence. This week, the Etcetera design team held another "Sharing Knowledge" session focused on web accessibility, and there was a lot to cover!
In the previous Sharing Knowledge session, our developers discussed the challenges in design implementation—how sometimes designers create solutions that don’t meet WCAG standards. So this session was all about accessibility standards, which are now gaining global importance.
The session was led by our designers, Polina and Karina, who presented in-depth material on WCAG standards and discussed some common challenges designers face in this area.
Sharing Knowledge: Web Accessibility for All
The main theme was content accessibility for people with disabilities. WCAG requirements are now a legal obligation in many countries, and not following them can result in serious legal risks and fines. For instance, Netflix had to pay over $755,000 in 2011 due to a lack of subtitles, and similar cases have multiplied worldwide.
What are WCAG and WAG?
WCAG, or Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, are standards designed to make web content accessible to people with different needs, such as those with visual, auditory, or motor impairments. WAG (Web Accessibility Guidelines) covers a broad range of accessibility principles for both web content and user interfaces. The main goal of these standards is to ensure equal access to information and services for everyone.
Key Points We Covered
- The POUR Principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust—four pillars of WCAG that help make content user-friendly for people with disabilities.
- Legal Aspects: Complying with WCAG standards is now a governmental requirement in many regions. Violating these standards can lead to major fines and even reduced visibility on search engines like Google.
- SEO Benefits: Accessible content positively impacts SEO, as Google downgrades sites in search results if they don’t meet WCAG requirements.
Polina and Karina also addressed a tough topic: adapting to accessibility standards can be challenging for creative designers, as “assistive” design can sometimes seem less aesthetic and may limit creativity. But the designer’s goal is to create an accessible product while keeping it attractive. They emphasized that as tools advance, it’s becoming easier to balance functionality and style, allowing for designs that are both modern and accessible.
During the session, we explored strategies brands use to integrate accessibility standards. For example, Netflix makes content accessible to hearing-impaired viewers not only by adding subtitles but also by describing sounds in their videos. A large part of the platform is adapted for users with disabilities, from navigation to viewing settings.
Slack offers settings to disable animations for users sensitive to movement. Airbnb optimizes navigation and information access for people with various physical limitations, including options to search and filter listings based on specific needs.
We also discussed common WCAG pitfalls, such as the “burger menu” icon (three lines indicating a navigation menu), which might seem intuitive to many but is often not recognized correctly by screen readers. Replacing it with a text label like “Menu” can make it more accessible.
Other essentials included proper form labeling, color schemes for visually impaired users, and making interactive elements easily navigable by keyboard.
This session helped our team focus on approaches and principles that allow us to create accessible and aesthetic designs, meet legal requirements, improve SEO, and ensure usability for everyone.
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Other essentials included proper form labeling, color schemes for visually impaired users, and making interactive elements easily navigable by keyboard.
