Why Accessibility and Usability Should Be Baked In, Not Added On
Imagine you’re craving a rich chocolate cake. You gather the finest cocoa, premium chocolate, and all the ingredients needed to ensure every bite delivers pure chocolate bliss. The result? A cake that’s rich, cohesive, and exactly what you wanted.
Now, imagine starting with a vanilla cake instead. Halfway through, you realise you wanted chocolate. So, you cover it with chocolate icing and maybe even inject some chocolate syrup inside. Sure, it looks chocolatey on the outside, and it might taste close, but it’s not quite the same as a true chocolate cake.
This analogy perfectly illustrates the difference between designing with usability, accessibility, and universal design in mind from the outset versus trying to retrofit these principles later. The end result might seem similar on the surface, but the experience—and the cost—will tell a different story.
Upfront vs. Retrospective Design: The Pros and Cons
1. Cost Efficiency
- Upfront: Building accessibility and usability from the beginning saves significant costs. Design decisions are intentional, and costly rework is avoided.
- Retrospective: Retrofitting accessibility features often requires reworking designs, rewriting code, and rethinking workflows—all of which are costly and time-consuming.
2. Time to Delivery
- Upfront: Projects stay on schedule as accessibility and usability are part of the initial scope.
- Retrospective: Redesigning to address accessibility issues can delay timelines, sometimes significantly, especially if third-party audits uncover non-compliance.
3. User Experience
- Upfront: A product designed with universal design principles delivers a seamless and enjoyable experience for all users.
- Retrospective: Patchwork fixes may address functional gaps but often leave the overall experience feeling disjointed.
4. Brand Reputation and Compliance
- Upfront: Proactive accessibility design enhances brand reputation, reduces legal risks, and ensures compliance with regulations.
- Retrospective: Addressing compliance only after issues arise can result in reputational damage, legal challenges, and loss of user trust.
5. Testing and Validation
- Upfront: Usability and accessibility testing are part of the standard development cycle, allowing early identification and correction of issues.
- Retrospective: External audits and retroactive testing often reveal deep-rooted problems that require extensive redesign and validation.
The Lesson: Try to build it right from the Start
Whether designing documents, websites, or apps, the principle remains the same: building with accessibility, usability, and universal design in mind from the start creates a stronger, more effective product. Like a well-made chocolate cake, everything aligns perfectly, delivering satisfaction without unnecessary rework.
On the other hand, retrofitting accessibility after the fact may result in a product that looks correct but doesn’t fully deliver on usability or inclusivity.
At ExceedAbility, we believe in baking accessibility into every stage of design and development. Whether you’re working on a document, website, or app, starting with the right ingredients ensures your end product isn’t just ‘good enough’—it’s exceptional.
Ready to create a seamless experience for all users from the start? Get in touch with us today.