How to Build Accessible Design System Components
Learn how to create accessible design system components that enhance usability for everyone, including those with disabilities.
Accessible design system components make digital interfaces usable for everyone, including people with disabilities. They ensure compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers and voice control. Here's what you need to know:
Quick Tip: Use tools like axe DevTools, Google Lighthouse, and WAVE for automated testing, and test with assistive technologies like NVDA or VoiceOver to catch issues early.
Accessible components benefit everyone and ensure compliance with standards like WCAG. Start integrating accessibility into your design process today!
Use these guidelines to create components that are easy for everyone to use. These rules directly shape how you develop and test your components.
Keep navigation simple and consistent by following these practices:
For more complex components, additional navigation features are necessary:
| Component Type | Required Navigation Features |
|---|---|
| Dropdown Menus | Arrow key navigation, Escape key to close, Enter to select |
| Modal Dialogs | Focus trapped inside the modal, Return focus to the previous element on close, Clear and visible close button |
| Accordions | Space/Enter to toggle panels, Arrow keys to move between panels |
The colors you choose can greatly affect accessibility. Follow these standards:
Interactive states should include clear visual indicators:
| State | Required Indicators |
|---|---|
| Hover | Change in color plus a shape or size adjustment |
| Focus | High-contrast outline and background change |
| Active | Immediate visual feedback and state indication |
| Error | Use a combination of color, an icon, and a text message |
Provide clear and concise text labels and descriptions for screen readers:
aria-label.Here’s an example using ARIA attributes:
<button
aria-expanded="false"
aria-controls="menu-content"
aria-label="Open settings menu">
Settings
</button>
Examples of effective descriptions:
| Component | Poor Description | Better Description |
|---|---|---|
| Profile Image | "avatar" | "User profile photo for John Smith" |
| Submit Button | "click here" | "Submit payment form" |
| Error Icon | "error" | "Form validation error: Required field missing" |
Text alternatives should deliver the same information as visual elements but stay concise. These principles are essential for building and testing accessible components.
Here’s a straightforward guide to creating components that everyone can use, regardless of their abilities.
Start by clearly defining what your component needs to meet accessibility standards. A checklist can help you stay organized:
| Requirement Type | Key Considerations |
|---|---|
| WCAG Guidelines | Follow relevant WCAG guidelines |
| User Needs | Ensure screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation |
| Technical Specs | Use semantic HTML and proper ARIA roles/states |
| Design Elements | Maintain proper color contrast and focus indicators |
These requirements will guide your design and development process.
Turn your requirements into actionable design decisions. Pay attention to these areas:
Visual Structure
Interactive Elements
Write semantic, accessible code and test it thoroughly to ensure it works as intended.
Semantic HTML Example
<nav role="navigation" aria-label="Main menu">
<button aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="submenu">
Settings
<span class="visually-hidden">Open settings menu</span>
</button>
</nav>
Testing Checklist
Create detailed documentation to support future maintenance and updates. Include the following:
| Documentation Element | Suggested Content |
|---|---|
| Component Overview | Explain the purpose, usage, and accessibility features |
| Code Examples | Provide examples of semantic HTML and ARIA usage |
| Testing Guidelines | Outline steps for screen reader and keyboard testing |
This documentation ensures your work remains accessible and easy to maintain over time.
Accessibility testing ensures your design system components work effectively for everyone. It’s essential to verify that components meet accessibility standards and provide a seamless experience.
Screen readers can highlight issues with navigation, labeling, and interaction. Here’s what to focus on:
| Testing Focus | Checks | Potential Issues |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation Flow | Tab order, focus indicators | Skipped elements, unclear focus states |
| Content Reading | Heading structure, alt text | Missing descriptions, incorrect hierarchy |
| Interactive Elements | Button labels, form inputs | Unlabeled controls, missing ARIA attributes |
Use tools like NVDA (for Windows) or VoiceOver (for macOS) to test functionality. Navigate through elements using both keyboard shortcuts and screen reader commands to identify issues. Manual testing is key, but automated tools can help catch common problems quickly.
After screen reader testing, automated tools provide an efficient way to check for compliance.
axe DevTools
Google Lighthouse
WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool)
Real user feedback can uncover problems that tools might miss. To get meaningful insights:
Regular user testing helps ensure your components remain accessible as they evolve, providing an optimal experience for all users.
Accessible components must effectively support a variety of assistive technologies, ensuring consistent functionality and performance across all tools.
When designing accessible components, it's essential to evaluate them against the needs of various assistive technologies. Here's a quick breakdown:
| Assistive Technology | Key Requirements | Testing Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Readers | Use ARIA labels and semantic HTML | Check content interpretation and navigation flow |
| Voice Control | Include clear, descriptive command targets | Test for accurate speech recognition |
| Magnification | Ensure responsive scaling and proper contrast | Verify text readability at 200–400% zoom |
| Keyboard Navigation | Implement focus indicators and logical tab order | Confirm full functionality without a mouse |
Building strong HTML structures that provide clear context and meaning is critical for ensuring compatibility with assistive tools.
Set up a routine testing process to maintain accessibility standards:
Document all findings and track improvements to address recurring challenges. Regular testing ensures your components stay effective across various platforms.
Midday offers specialized support for maintaining accessible design systems. Their services include:
Midday provides flexible subscription plans with access to senior developers and designers who specialize in accessibility. These experts work to ensure your components integrate smoothly with assistive technologies while meeting accessibility requirements.
Building successful, accessible components depends on three core principles:
It's crucial to integrate accessibility from the very beginning of development, not as an afterthought. Regular testing and updates are essential to keep your components effective and inclusive over time.
Creating accessible components can be complex, but you don't have to do it alone. Midday offers tailored services to simplify the process:
| Service Area | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Component Development | Clean, accessible code with ARIA and semantic HTML |
| Quality Assurance | Testing with assistive tools and WCAG compliance checks |
| Ongoing Maintenance | Regular audits, updates, and monitoring |
| Documentation | Detailed technical guidelines and standards |
Midday's subscription plans start at $2,200 per month. These plans include access to experienced developers and designers who specialize in accessibility. Their team ensures reliable, high-quality support and can scale services as your needs evolve.
With expert help, you can avoid common mistakes and speed up the creation of inclusive, reliable components. Regular testing and maintenance will keep your design system accessible while adapting to your users' needs.
Integrating accessibility from the start of the design process ensures that your components are usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities. This approach saves time and resources by avoiding costly redesigns later and helps you meet legal and ethical standards for inclusivity.
By prioritizing accessibility early, you also improve the overall user experience for all users, as accessible designs often lead to clearer, more intuitive interfaces. Additionally, it ensures compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers and keyboard navigation, making your product more inclusive and effective.
To ensure your design system components are accessible, use a combination of automated tools and real user feedback. Automated tools like accessibility checkers can quickly identify common issues, such as missing alt text or inadequate color contrast. Popular tools include axe, Lighthouse, and Wave. These tools provide a great starting point for identifying accessibility gaps.
However, automated testing alone isn’t enough. Involve real users, especially those who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers, to test your components in real-world scenarios. Their feedback can uncover usability issues that automated tools might miss. Testing with diverse users ensures your design system works seamlessly for everyone.
For enterprise teams, services like Midday can provide expert developers and designers to help integrate accessibility best practices into your workflow. This ensures your components are not only functional but also inclusive and scalable.
Developers often encounter challenges when ensuring design system components are accessible to users relying on assistive technologies. Some common issues include inconsistent support across screen readers, managing keyboard navigation, and ensuring proper color contrast.
To address these challenges, developers can:
By incorporating accessibility into the design process from the start and iterating based on testing, developers can create components that are inclusive and functional for all users.