What are the best ways to make your product design accessible to users worldwide?

1 Understand your users

The first step to making your product design accessible is to understand who your users are, what their needs and preferences are, and how they interact with your product. You can use various methods to conduct user research, such as surveys, interviews, personas, scenarios, and usability testing. You should also consider the context of use, such as the device, environment, and situation of your users. By understanding your users, you can design for their goals, expectations, and behaviors.

2 Use inclusive language

The second step to making your product design accessible is to use inclusive language that is clear, concise, and respectful. You should avoid jargon, slang, idioms, metaphors, and cultural references that may not be understood or appreciated by your global users. You should also use plain and simple words that convey your message effectively and avoid ambiguity or confusion. You should also be mindful of the tone, style, and voice of your language, and adapt it to suit your audience and purpose.

3 Apply localization and internationalization

The third step to making your product design accessible is to apply localization and internationalization principles. Localization is the process of adapting your product to a specific market or region, while internationalization is the process of making it ready for localization. You should consider the layout, content, formats, and functionality of your product when applying these principles. Your layout should be flexible and responsive, accommodating different text directions, lengths, fonts, and sizes. Your content should be relevant and accurate for your target market or region, using professional translators and reviewers to ensure quality and consistency. Your formats should follow the standards and conventions of your target market or region, using symbols, icons, images, colors, and graphics that are culturally sensitive and meaningful. Lastly, your functionality should work smoothly and reliably for your target market or region with user-friendly input methods, navigation patterns, feedback mechanisms, and error handling.

4 Follow accessibility guidelines

The fourth step to making your product design accessible is to follow accessibility guidelines that ensure your product is usable by people with different abilities and disabilities. You should use the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as a reference for designing web-based products, and the Mobile Accessibility Guidelines (MAG) for designing mobile-based products. You should also use tools and techniques to test and evaluate your product's accessibility, such as screen readers, keyboard navigation, color contrast analyzers, and accessibility checkers.

5 Seek feedback and iterate

The fifth step to making your product design accessible is to seek feedback and iterate on your design. You should involve your users, stakeholders, and experts in your design process, and collect their opinions, suggestions, and criticisms. You should also test your product with real users in different markets and regions, and measure its performance, satisfaction, and impact. By seeking feedback and iterating on your design, you can improve your product's accessibility and user experience.

6 Learn and grow

The sixth and final step to making your product design accessible is to learn and grow from your design experience. You should reflect on your design process, outcomes, and challenges, and identify your strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities. You should also keep up with the latest trends, innovations, and best practices in product design, and explore new ways to make your product design accessible to users worldwide. By learning and growing from your design experience, you can enhance your product design skills and knowledge.