Beauty Without Barriers: Rethinking Creativity Through Accessibility

Andre Murrell

April 17, 2025

Distorted picture of two people on a coloured backround.

We in the design space often pride ourselves on innovation and creativity. Yet, if we're honest, our go to conventional design thinking or creative concepting falls short for a significant portion of users: individuals with disabilities. In our rush to craft visually stunning and novel user experiences, we sometimes inadvertently create barriers, leaving behind those who navigate the digital world in different ways. Instead of bringing everyone along on the creative journey, we risk designing solutions that, while perhaps great to look at, are fundamentally exclusionary.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are often perceived as a set of restrictive rules, a checklist of hurdles to begrudgingly overcome. If we reframe that, WCAG standards are not barriers to creativity; they are useful tools that empower us to hold ourselves accountable for the experiences we create. They provide a framework for thoughtful design, ensuring that our solutions are accessible to everyone. So if we embrace these guidelines, then it isn't about stifling creativity, but rather about channeling it in a more inclusive and ultimately more impactful direction.

“Can we make it move?”

You might be surprised how many adults experience motion sensitivity, even if they don't have a diagnosed condition. Getting exact figures for the UK can be tricky, but major studies from the US paint a picture: they suggest anywhere from 28% to 60% of adults might be affected. Looking at the US data for context, they also report around 8 million people with chronic balance issues and 2.4 million with chronic dizziness. For anyone sensitive to motion, things like animation can easily cause problems, leading to reactions that can linger even after the animation has finished.^1,2,3

When using animation, it needs to be intentional – not just decoration. The key question is, does this movement genuinely improve the user's understanding or experience? If it does, then we absolutely must ensure that users who can’t experience it still get the same information or value accessibly.

So, if an animation is valuable, how do we make it accessible? Basic steps like pause buttons are just the start. Truly respecting users means honouring their device's 'reduce motion' settings – smart animations (using javascript or css) can detect this and display a simpler version or a static fallback, ensuring the message lands without discomfort.

For interactive animations, keyboard control is essential, but we also need to describe what's happening visually. Using ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications), we can provide text descriptions for transitions or announce confirmations (like a successful form submission) for screen reader users. If an animation conveys complex information, always offer that data in an accessible format too, like a clear table or text summary. ^4,5

Thinking this deeply about animation accessibility goes way beyond compliance. It's about committing to genuinely inclusive design that works better for everyone.

So, it doesn't matter if the goal is a great landing page, pushing design boundaries, or winning awards – truly brilliant design happens when we make everyone's needs part of the plan from day one. Treating design as purposeful and accessible isn't just ticking a box; it's essential for making work that really clicks with all users and actually delivers what they need.

Useful References

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