The definition of universal design
The concept of universal design goes beyond just IT. It is about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their motor or cognitive abilities, can access and use the services and opportunities made available to the public. Using public transport, shopping at the store, and finding inspiration on Pinterest, for example, should be possible for everyone.
Universal design of websites
It is therefore important that all digital solutions are adapted to everyone. This also applies to all websites. For website design, there are common guidelines that everyone who creates websites must follow (WCAG - Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
In Norway, websites are monitored by the “Tilsynet for universell utforming av IKT”, and if you do not comply with the standard set by WCAG, you may receive a requirement to improve the site and, ultimately, fines.
What does universal design of websites involve?
The list from WCAG includes 64 criteria for how a website should be universally accessible. We will go through some examples of what universal design entails:
- Readable design: use colors and illustrative elements that are clear and easy for everyone to read. This includes text, images, and colors. Use alt text on images and illustrations to explain in words what is shown in the image.
- Structure the content well: In addition to ensuring that the content on the website is high quality, it’s important that it is presented in a clear way. Use an H1-tag on the main heading to indicate what type of text it is. The same applies to subheadings, which are marked with H2, H3, etc. This makes it clear what the different text elements are, and the page will feel more organized.
- Clear flow and easy navigation: It’s important that the page feels clean and easy to understand for everyone who visits it. It should be just as functional for people with visual impairments as for those who are deaf, etc. The overall structure of the page plays a major role in this context. Make sure the content you present appears in a logical order on the page. It’s also important that the menus are specific and that it’s easy to navigate both back to the homepage and further into subpages. You can achieve this by, for example, using breadcrumbs to show where the user is in the site hierarchy at any given time.
- Clean source code: This is simply about ensuring that your website has clearly structured source code without major errors. Make sure all content on the page is correctly formatted and tagged in the code. This forms the foundation that enables smooth navigation and use of the website, regardless of which assistive technologies are used to read the page.
Summary
Universal design of websites is about ensuring that all websites are accessible and easy to use, regardless of users’ motor or cognitive abilities. You adapt the design and layout of the site to make it easier to read and navigate. This can include changes in design and metadata.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of universal design?
Universal design means that all services available in society can be used by everyone, regardless of their motor or cognitive abilities. In IT, this means that all websites must be readable and easy to navigate for everyone, including people with disabilities or those using assistive technologies.
What is universal design of websites?
Universal design of websites is about making sure that websites are accessible to everyone. This includes having a design with text and visual elements that are easy to understand, smooth navigation throughout the site, and clear descriptions of the content in the website’s source code.
