KC Design Week | Digital Access for Everyone

As designers and creatives, we strive to build digital work that is useful, helpful, beautiful, and that makes a lasting impact. The biggest barrier to being effective in our efforts is accessibility. We design for the newest machines and mobile devices, assuming everyone has access to fast and inexpensive data and internet connections. The reality is, most people do not.

Often, the current state of the global web is different from what we have in mind when creating content. For instance, the most commonly designed-for screen resolution in 2019, 360 x 640 px, accounted for just 14% of total screen views globally. In fact, only 43% of the global population owns a smart device, and in many places, data is more expensive than gas, water, or housing.

It’s predicted that another billion users will come online over the next few years. Given the breadth of users, their unique needs and experiences, the variety of mobile devices, and the difference in data access; how do we as designers rise to meet this challenge?

Creative technologist and designer Michael Dolan will discuss the current state of the web and the challenges people face in accessing it. He’ll explain why designing for accessibility makes sense, and also dig into how to make digital design as accessible as possible for all people around the world today, as well as when more people come online in the future. Finally, he’ll explore current trends and successes in accessible digital design and what we’re likely to see in the next five years.