Short answer
Designers must prioritize clear communication about visual accessibility with clients and advocate for its inclusion in design projects from the outset.
- Field
- Human Factors
- Source
- Design Studies (2015)
- Method
- Survey
- Sample
- 122 participants
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
A disconnect in communication between clients and graphic designers often leads to a lack of consideration for visual accessibility in print-based designs. This human factors research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Design Studies. Using Survey with 122 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers must prioritize clear communication about visual accessibility with clients and advocate for its inclusion in design projects from the outset.
Client-Designer Communication Gaps Hinder Visual Accessibility in Graphic Design
A disconnect in communication between clients and graphic designers often leads to a lack of consideration for visual accessibility in print-based designs.
Design Studies · 2015
Key Findings
- 01Clients and graphic designers may not be communicating effectively about visual accessibility.
- 02There is a need for inclusive design tools to assist clients and designers in addressing visual accessibility.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers must prioritize clear communication about visual accessibility with clients and advocate for its inclusion in design projects from the outset.
How to apply
When developing a design brief or communicating with a client, explicitly discuss and document requirements for visual accessibility, considering factors like contrast, font size, and layout.
Project actions
- 01When interviewing clients, ask specific questions about who the target audience is and if there are any known visual impairments or accessibility needs.
- 02In your design process, document how you considered visual accessibility, such as font choices, color contrast ratios, and layout clarity.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Addresses a critical but often overlooked aspect of graphic design.
- +Provides empirical evidence from a survey of industry professionals.
Limitations
The communication gap might be specific to certain industries or regions, and the survey size is relatively small.
Reliability & validity
The reliability of the survey responses depends on the honesty and self-awareness of the participants. Validity is supported by the focus on a specific industry context, but the findings might not be generalizable to all design fields.
Think critically
To what extent is the responsibility for visual accessibility communication on the designer versus the client?
Design Principles
"Effective communication is a prerequisite for inclusive and accessible design."
This highlights a critical failure in the design process where the needs of diverse users are overlooked due to poor communication. Effective design requires understanding and catering to the full spectrum of human capabilities and limitations.
What This Means for Your Design
Sometimes, the people who want a design (clients) and the people who make it (designers) don't talk well enough about making sure everyone can see and understand the design easily.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this insight to justify the inclusion of user research focused on visual accessibility in your project, or to explain why you prioritized certain visual elements for clarity and legibility.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights a critical communication failure between clients and designers, leading to a lack of visual accessibility in print-based graphic design. To ensure inclusive design, it is imperative to establish clear communication channels and explicitly address visual accessibility requirements from the project's inception, as demonstrated by the finding that designers and clients may not be effectively discussing these needs.
Source
Design Studies
Visual accessibility in graphic design: A client–designer communication failure
journal · 2015
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about client-designer communication gaps hinder visual accessibility in graphic design?
- Designers must prioritize clear communication about visual accessibility with clients and advocate for its inclusion in design projects from the outset. Evidence: Design Studies (2015).
- Why does "Client-Designer Communication Gaps Hinder Visual Accessibility in Graphic Design" matter for design?
- This highlights a critical failure in the design process where the needs of diverse users are overlooked due to poor communication. Effective design requires understanding and catering to the full spectrum of human capabilities and limitations.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers must prioritize clear communication about visual accessibility with clients and advocate for its inclusion in design projects from the outset.
- What were the main findings?
- Clients and graphic designers may not be communicating effectively about visual accessibility.. There is a need for inclusive design tools to assist clients and designers in addressing visual accessibility.
- What research method was used?
- Survey with 122 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2015 journal from Design Studies.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing a design brief or communicating with a client, explicitly discuss and document requirements for visual accessibility, considering factors like contrast, font size, and layout.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses on print-based graphic design and may not fully represent digital design or other forms of visual communication.