Job brief
We are looking for a passionate Accessibility Designer to lead our inclusive design initiatives and ensure our digital ecosystem is accessible to everyone. In this role, you will work closely with our UX/UI designers and front-end engineers to integrate accessibility best practices from the wireframing stage through to final deployment. You will be the primary voice for inclusive design within our product organization, driving both compliance with international standards and a culture of empathy. If you are eager to shape the future of inclusive technology and solve complex design challenges, we would love to have you on our team.
Key highlights
- Audit existing web and mobile platforms for WCAG 2.2 compliance using automated tools like Axe and manual screen reader testing.
- Develop inclusive design systems that define accessible color contrasts, typography scaling, and focus indicator patterns for global implementation.
- Partner with front-end developers to ensure semantic HTML, ARIA labels, and logical tab orders are executed during the sprint cycle.
- Conduct usability testing sessions with users who rely on assistive technologies to identify pain points and validate design improvements.
What is a Accessibility Designer?
An Accessibility Designer is a specialized UX professional focused on removing barriers for users with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments. By integrating inclusive design methodologies and WCAG 2.1/2.2 compliance into the product development lifecycle, an Accessibility Designer ensures that every digital touchpoint is equitable. This role involves auditing existing platforms, training product teams on universal design principles, and advocating for inclusive practices that extend the reach and impact of digital products to all global users.
What does a Accessibility Designer do?
On a daily basis, an Accessibility Designer performs deep-dive audits of web and mobile interfaces using assistive technologies like NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver to verify screen reader compatibility. They translate complex legal compliance requirements into actionable design systems, creating high-contrast color palettes, logical keyboard navigation flows, and descriptive alt-text specifications. Beyond tactical design work, they act as a consultant to product managers and developers, providing documentation for accessible component libraries and conducting usability testing sessions with participants representing diverse ability profiles.
Key responsibilities
- Audit existing web and mobile platforms for WCAG 2.2 compliance using automated tools like Axe and manual screen reader testing.
- Develop inclusive design systems that define accessible color contrasts, typography scaling, and focus indicator patterns for global implementation.
- Partner with front-end developers to ensure semantic HTML, ARIA labels, and logical tab orders are executed during the sprint cycle.
- Translate legal accessibility requirements into functional UX documentation, user stories, and annotated design specifications for development teams.
- Conduct usability testing sessions with users who rely on assistive technologies to identify pain points and validate design improvements.
- Deliver training workshops on inclusive design principles to cross-functional stakeholders including product managers, developers, and visual designers.
- Maintain detailed documentation of accessibility compliance status for all features to support organizational reporting and regulatory standards.
- Monitor global legal trends in digital accessibility (ADA, Section 508, EAA) to ensure our product roadmap remains proactive and compliant.
Requirements and skills
- Expert-level knowledge of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 and 2.2 AA/AAA success criteria and their practical application.
- Hands-on proficiency with assistive technologies including NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver (iOS/macOS), and TalkBack (Android).
- Deep familiarity with Figma or Sketch, including the creation of accessible component libraries and auto-layout documentation.
- Understanding of front-end web technologies, specifically how semantic HTML5 and WAI-ARIA implementations affect screen reader accessibility.
- Proven experience conducting user research with a diverse set of participants, including those who utilize adaptive or assistive hardware.
- CPWA (Certified Professional in Web Accessibility) or WAS (Web Accessibility Specialist) certification from IAAP is highly preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction, Design, or a related field with 3+ years of specific accessibility design experience.
- Ability to clearly articulate the business value of accessibility to non-technical stakeholders to build internal support for inclusive initiatives.
FAQs
What does an Accessibility Designer do?
An Accessibility Designer specializes in ensuring that digital products are usable by individuals with disabilities. They analyze design flows to remove barriers, conduct compliance audits against WCAG standards, and teach development teams how to implement inclusive code and design patterns that support assistive technologies like screen readers.
What are the most important skills for an Accessibility Designer?
Essential skills include a deep mastery of the WCAG 2.1/2.2 guidelines, proficiency in testing with screen readers like NVDA or VoiceOver, and the ability to document accessibility specifications for developers. Additionally, strong soft skills are required to influence stakeholders and champion inclusive design across the entire organization.
How does an Accessibility Designer work with developers?
An Accessibility Designer works alongside developers during the design phase to define proper semantic structure and during the implementation phase to troubleshoot accessibility bugs. They provide clear documentation on ARIA attributes, keyboard navigation paths, and dynamic state management to ensure that what is designed is also functional for all users.
Why is an Accessibility Designer a critical role for modern businesses?
Beyond legal compliance with mandates like the ADA or the European Accessibility Act, an Accessibility Designer is crucial for ensuring brand inclusivity and reaching a wider market. By prioritizing accessibility, companies minimize legal risk while creating superior, more robust products that benefit all users, not just those with disabilities.