Creating a kind and inclusive website isn't just about doing what's right

 

When you prioritise kind and inclusive practices on your website, it shows that you’ve considered the diverse needs and preferences of your audience – their backgrounds, identity and abilities.

 

This can help to create an experience where your visitors feel understood and valued, ultimately strengthening your connections with your community.

It also creates a more enjoyable online experience – and don’t we all wish for more of that!

 01.

Start at the branding phase

 

Your brand colours are not just about looking pretty and helping your audience remember your business. They are also a key component to making your website (and other marketing materials) more inclusive. Strong colour contrast ensures that everyone, regardless of their visual ability, can easily read and navigate your site. It's a small change that makes a big difference in creating a kind and inclusive online space.

At Alana Jade Studio, we prioritise colour contrast accessibility standards in all of our brand kits.

 

 

02.

Embrace minimalism

 

A minimal site — if designed and written right — respects your visitors time and energy. It removes distractions so it’s less likely your visitors get side-tracked by unimportant stuff or are forced to sift through lots of unnecessary content that’s not of value to them. It should therefore make it easier and faster for your visitors to find what they’re looking for.

 

 

03.

Include white space

 

White space, also called negative space, is space between pictures, text, and buttons on a webpage. It's the blank areas that help things look organised and easy to read, kind of like margins in a book. White space on a website gives your visitors room to breathe. It prevents overcrowding and clutter, making content easier to digest.

04.

Keep things tidy

 

Make sure the technical aspects of your website function like they should – forms submit correctly, links go to the right place, your shop checkout process and / or scheduling system is streamlined, old pages are hidden from search. Whenever a visitor runs into a roadblock, not only is this super frustrating (and impacts the bottom line of your business), it impacts their nervous system and energy levels.

05.

Be transparent

 

…about your pricing, returns policy, products and services, what happens when someone opts-in to your mailing list etc. This helps to establish trust, reduces nervous system dis-regulation and helps your website visitors make informed decisions.

06.

Use common terminology

 

Use common terminology in your main navigation (about, contact etc) so it’s easy for people to find the key pages (and key information) they need. Also do so for the headings on each page. Ask yourself “If my visitors only read the headings, will they still have a good understanding of what is on the page?” This is ultra-important for those using screen readers as they can opt to read out the headings first.

07.

Add alt-text to your images

 

Alt-text on images is like a helpful caption that explains what the picture shows, particularly for those who can't see it. It is crucial for website accessibility because it ensures that individuals with visual impairments can still comprehend the content. When images lack alt-text, screen readers might miss out on important information conveyed through visuals.

08.

Prioritise accessibility

 

Website accessibility includes things like responsive design, image alt-text, limiting animations, correct heading and content structures, meaningful labels on links and keyboard accessibility. I love Squarespace for this as it has an incredibly thoughtful approach to accessibility (that many other website platforms don’t have) allowing us to achieve accessibility standards with their inbuilt tools and functionality.

Find out more about how we prioritise designs that are kind to people and the planet.