Hello February!

Let's warm up our creative minds with a dive into accessibility. As the upcoming law amendments are bringing many new fields within the scope of legal requirements, it is getting harder and harder for us designers to avoid the topic. Discover why accessibility is not just a legally required checkbox but a cornerstone of impactful design.

Meet our curator of the month

Noora is a Designer, Front-end developer, and Accessibility specialist (CPWA) based in Tampere, Finland. While Noora's career began as a UX/UI designer, her curiosity about user interaction fuelled a journey into web development and later accessibility, unlocking new layers of creativity.

Noora's picks

Giving a damn about accessibility

By Sheri Byrne-Haber, CPACC

Sheri Byrne-Haber's handbook is a must-read for anyone, especially those who still have doubts about the importance of accessibility. The handbook explains accessibility candidly, avoiding all that unnecessary fluff too often found in texts about accessibility: no utopia, pity, or forced sales angles here. As Sheri puts it, "Technology doesn't make accessibility hard. People who don't give a damn do." So, read that damn handbook and start giving a damn.

Infographic - Disability in the EU: Facts and figures

By European Council

Numbers and facts take the spotlight in this infographic from the European Council. If you are like me and appreciate data-driven perspectives, this visual representation offers a stark reality check. Over a million people in Finland alone require more accessible services, and with 1 in 4 adults having a disability in the EU, the need for accessible design and development practices becomes clear.

W3Cx: Introduction to Web Accessibility

By The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)

This free online course from W3C is a great way to upskill in web accessibility. While it is introductory, it offers insights even for those already well-versed in accessibility—I would be lying if I claimed I learned nothing! The course is a good resource for international standards, the business case for accessibility, and strategies for managing accessibility in your project and organization.

Few facts about the curator

How did you end up in your current role?

Starting as a designer, I quickly felt that design and prototyping tools fell short of fully replicating user interaction. Getting into front-end development provided fresh insights into how people interact with technology, sparking a passion for universal design and accessibility.

What’s one skill or technology you’ve learned recently that has had an impact on your work?

I have used screen readers and other assistive technologies to interact with tech, both professionally and during my free time. This not only enables me to use my phone without looking at it and my smartwatch without touch, but it has also deepened my understanding of user interactions on multiple levels, emphasizing the importance of inclusive design.

Are there any emerging technologies or trends you’re particularly excited about?

Following the progress in Augmented Reality (AR) has been exciting, and I'm eagerly waiting for the rise of assistive technology in that space. Just imagine the possibilities, such as AR live captions! There's so much potential for creating technology that applies our learnings from digital accessibility to remove barriers in the physical world.

One thing you would recommend all designers to try out?

Front-end coding, absolutely — especially mark-up like HTML and CSS. You don't need to produce production-quality code, just grasp the basics. Understanding the actual medium your users interact with helps you design more fitting solutions and effectively communicate your decisions to developers.

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