A Short Accessibility Checklist for Every Design Review

1 minute read

A phone on a stand showing a mobile app with a play button

Fixing accessibility after launch is expensive. Fixing it in Figma takes minutes. This is the checklist I run before any screen goes to a developer.

The eight checks

  • Contrast: body text at least 4.5:1, large text 3:1. A plugin checks this in seconds.
  • Focus states: every interactive element has a visible focus style, designed, not left to the browser.
  • Touch targets: at least 44 by 44 pixels on mobile.
  • Not colour alone: errors and status use an icon or text as well as colour.
  • Headings: one clear page title, then a logical order.
  • Labels: every input has a visible label, not just a placeholder.
  • Motion: anything that moves can be reduced or switched off.
  • Text size: the layout survives text at 200%.

Make it a habit

Put the list in your review template. After a few projects you will stop needing it, because the checks become part of how you design.

Recent Publications