Which access needs should our website design cover?

Website design should accommodate keyboard, mouse, touch and screen-reader use rather than assume every visitor sees and operates the interface in the same way. Consider visitors with slow internet connections as well as visitors using different devices. Text contrast, image alternatives and input methods belong in design decisions from the outset, not only in a final review.

For the This is IBM page celebrating IBM's work in the UK and Ireland, a developer was involved from the beginning. That involvement helped establish what was practical to implement and prioritise inclusion across colours, contrasts, devices and input methods. Use early collaboration between designers and developers to make accessibility part of the creative work rather than treat visual ambition and access as competing goals.

WebAIM's 2026 automated analysis of leading websites' rendered home pages globally found low-contrast text on 83.9% of home pages, missing image alternatives on 53.1%, and missing form labels on 51%.

Website design should account for access needs that arise from language, location or surroundings, not only permanent impairments. A visitor reading in a non-native language may need longer to understand content. An auto-rotating carousel can make reading harder when content moves on before the visitor has finished.

Viewing conditions also affect visual access. Someone using a smartphone in bright sunlight needs enough contrast to see the content clearly. Someone travelling through distracting surroundings needs a mobile website that is easy to use while concentration is interrupted. Consider content timing, contrast and mobile usability together so the design accommodates changing circumstances as well as differences between users.