Designing for Digital | Accessible Information, Materials, and Technology

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Provide descriptive links and clear calls to action.
Do not use phrases like “click here” or “learn more.”
Hyperlink words instead of the URL or a small footprint like a single letter, single word, or small graphic.
Create large clickable links and buttons for actions you want visitors to complete.
Ensure that links are clear and large enough to be accessed by fingers.

Use bold to convey emphasis.
Use highlight boxes for emphasis.
Add descriptive ALT text to all images unless they are purely decorative.
Do not use graphics to convey textual information.
Always include captions or provide a transcript for all video content. Do not rely on auto-generated captions!
Ensure that text-to-background contrast ratio is 4.5:1 for standard paragraph text and 3:1 for large (header) text.
Do not use orange text on a white background or any color text on an orange background.
Do not solely rely on colors to convey information.
Consider context and environmental factors when planning images.
Use a logical top-down layout to organize information on the screen or page.
Left-align text. Center rarely and avoid using justified text.
Avoid using emojis and icons within paragraph text.
Design with mobile in mind. Think about how content will look and flow on smaller devices.
Design documents for digital use!
Take the time to learn to create accessible PDFs.
Test everything!

General information: accessibility.utk.edu
Accessibility of learning materials: oit.utk.edu/instructional/ strategies/accessibility-of-learning-materials/
Universal design for learning: oit.utk.edu/instructional/udl/
Workshops: workshop.utk.edu