Accessibility, ethics, and inclusion. Design that works for 100% of users.
Design that works for 100% of users—not just the 80% in your user testing. Accessibility isn't a feature; it's a baseline. This part covers WCAG compliance, ethical persuasion vs. dark patterns, and inclusive design principles that expand your market while doing the right thing. Build products that empower all users and avoid the legal and reputational risks of exclusionary design.
Key Concepts:
Key Concepts:
How these principles validate your work—whether you use Figma, Cursor, or V0
Accessibility lawsuits hit $13B in 2023. Dark pattern regulations are expanding globally. But this isn't about avoiding punishment—it's about reaching the 1 billion people current designs exclude. These principles show you how to design for 100% of users while meeting WCAG standards and avoiding manipulative patterns that erode trust.
Semantic HTML isn't optional. Screen reader compatibility isn't an edge case. Keyboard navigation isn't a nice-to-have. These principles give you the technical requirements for inclusive implementation: ARIA attributes, focus management, contrast ratios, and touch targets that pass automated audits and real-world testing.
One billion potential users have disabilities. Another billion face situational impairments (bright sunlight, broken arm, loud environment). Accessibility isn't charity—it's market expansion. These principles help you build business cases for inclusive design while avoiding the legal exposure that's bankrupted competitors.
13 principles organized into 2 chapters
4 principles
6 principles
Validation paths tailored for different experience levels
From Subjective to Scientific
Run an accessibility audit this week: Tab through your site (keyboard only), check color contrast, test with VoiceOver/NVDA. You'll find issues in minutes. Then read Perceivable to understand why those issues matter and how to fix them systematically.
From Guesswork to Guidelines
Move from fixing issues to preventing them. Build accessibility into your design system: accessible components, color contrast checkers, focus management patterns. Review your product for dark patterns—be honest about manipulative flows and fix them.
From Features to Outcomes
Lead organizational change. Create accessibility training, establish review processes, and measure compliance over time. Champion ethical design in roadmap discussions. Make the business case: accessibility expands markets and reduces legal risk.
Validate your AI output with these principles in your daily workflow
Protect your organization:
Reach users you're currently excluding:
Apply what you learned with these exercises
Conduct a WCAG evaluation of your product
Navigate your interface with a screen reader
Complete all tasks using only keyboard
Audit all text for WCAG AA compliance
Identify any manipulative patterns in your product
Evaluate features against ethical design principles
Include users with disabilities in research
Create a prioritized plan for accessibility improvements
Review data collection and consent flows
Evaluate your product's impact on user wellbeing
Recommended knowledge before starting
error prevention, help and documentation
typography, color, hierarchy
forms, mobile design, affordances
AI transparency
Accessibility and ethics touch every aspect of design, so foundational knowledge is essential.