🎄 Bonjour 🎄

December at last folks! I know... it still feels like we're halfway through 2020 but no, no, progress! Since it's the last one of the year, I wanted to thank you for reading this newsletter. I'm super grateful that so many of you find it helpful. Because by doing so, you're keeping me accountable. Every month, I gotta find new tips to share with you. I'm learning at the same time as you and that is super important for me. So thank you, and enjoy this holiday season!

How to define information structure for screen readers

Information, structure, and relationships refer to how elements are organized on a page—elements such as the header, footer, navigation items, sections, and text headings (h1, h2, h3, etc.). In order for the content to be accessible to screen reader users, these elements must be properly defined in markup. So if you're using a no-code builder, it's important that you mark titles the correct way. Otherwise, a system like Webflow will flag it as an accessibility error. 

What designers can do about Internet addiction

Heard of the Internet Addiction Disorder? It's actually a thing. And as a designer, I have a responsibility with people using the websites I helped build. Learn all about the difference between persuasive and addictive design in this great article on This Too Shall Grow. 

How to put ethical design front and center

Ethical design is an approach to app design and development that prioritizes good, positive and healthy experiences over negative ones. More specifically, it means creating positive experiences, usable interfaces, and healthy and safe digital environments. Here are eight ways in which you can build better apps through ethical design.

Make multiple types of input available

Allowing users to switch between multiple types of input (keyboard, voice, touch, mouse, etc.) is accessible to people with a diversity of different disabilities. You don't have to host all these files on your own server but you can encourage people to submit a link to their videos or audio files when filling a form. 

Don't describe the image in the alt text

When writing alt text, rather than describing every visual detail of an image, the most important thing is to describe the purpose of the image in the context of the web page. If the image is a light blue button with rounded edges and dark red text with the word "Submit," the alt text should be simply: alt="submit". Don't worry about describing the non-essential visual aspects of the button's appearance.

Clearly identify required form fields

Ensuring that required fields are clearly identified can help users avoid errors when completing a form and neglect information they need to provide. Requirements for identifying required fields include making sure the "required" indicator is visible to sighted users and available to assistive technology users.