Accessibility Checklist for Designers and UX Designers

Use this checklist when designing user interfaces, components, prototypes, and interaction flows. Accessibility decisions made during design can prevent defects later in development.

Layout and Structure

• Create a clear visual hierarchy that can translate into a logical heading and content structure.
• Design layouts that remain understandable when content is enlarged or reflowed.
• Do not rely on visual position alone to communicate relationships or instructions.
• Plan a logical reading and focus order for responsive layouts.

Color and Visual Presentation

• Choose text and interface colors that meet required contrast.
• Do not use color alone to communicate status, meaning, selection, errors, or required information.
• Ensure meaningful icons, boundaries, focus indicators, and other interface graphics have sufficient contrast.
• Design visible focus states for all interactive controls.
• Do not require users to distinguish content solely by shape, size, or location.

Controls and Interaction

• Use familiar, consistent interaction patterns and clearly identify links, buttons, inputs, and other controls.
• Design controls with adequate target size and spacing.
• Provide visible labels for form controls and do not rely on placeholder text as the label.
• Design clear hover, focus, selected, expanded, disabled, error, and success states.
• Do not design interactions that require complex gestures when a simpler alternative can be provided.

Forms and Errors

• Place labels and instructions where users can find them before entering information.
• Clearly indicate required fields without relying on color alone.
• Design specific error messages that explain the problem and how to fix it.
• Ensure errors are visually associated with the affected field.
• Plan accessible confirmation, warning, and status messaging.

Content and Media

• Allow space for meaningful link text rather than generic labels such as “click here.”
• Do not place essential information only inside images.
• Plan text alternatives for meaningful images, charts, diagrams, maps, and data visualizations.
• Include captions, transcripts, and audio-description needs in multimedia designs.
• Avoid unnecessary motion and provide user controls when moving or updating content is used.

Design Handoff

• Annotate heading levels, landmarks, labels, names, states, focus order, and keyboard behavior when they are not obvious.
• Document expected behavior for custom components and dynamic interactions.
• Identify accessibility requirements in component specifications and acceptance criteria.
• Include accessibility states and responsive behavior in design-system components.
• Review implemented designs for accessibility, not only visual fidelity.

Accessibility is a shared responsibility. Use this checklist as a practical starting point and seek additional accessibility expertise when needed.