What is accessible brochure design?
There has been a lot of talk lately about making brochures more accessible, but what exactly does that mean and how can you achieve it for your business. Well basically, accessible brochure design refers to creating brochures that are designed with accessibility in mind, meaning they are easy to understand and use for individuals with disabilities. These disabilities could be visual or in some cases learning difficulties.
At Pixelo, not only can we create totally new brochures for you all in line with the latest accessibility standards, but we can also take your existing brochures and add accessibility features to them. There are several elements to we take into consideration when designing accessible brochures, including:
- Clear and concise language: Use simple, easy-to-understand language that is free from jargon or complex terminology.
- Font size and style: Choose a font that is easy to read and ensure the text is large enough to be read by individuals with visual impairments. The cleaner and crisper the contrast between font and background the better, avoid background graphics behind text as this makes the copy harder to read.
- Contrast: Ensure there is sufficient contrast between the background and the text to make it easier to read.
- Images: Use alt-text descriptions for all images so that individuals with visual impairments can understand the content. This can even be achieved on your existing brochures, we can add tags retrospectively.
- Layout: Organize the content in a clear and logical way that is easy to follow and that makes sense.
- Accessible format: Provide the brochure in alternative formats, such as braille or audio, for individuals who are unable to read printed materials. There are braille printers out there, it will cost more certainly, but if for a specific project where the visually impaired are involved it would be a very considerate act.
By incorporating these design elements, you can create brochures that are more inclusive and accessible to a wider audience.
So who needs accessible brochure design ?
Accessible brochure design can be important for a wide range of audiences. It is increasingly important that your brochure design be up to accessibility standards, so as many people as possible can access it’s content, including :
People with disabilities: Brochures that are designed to be accessible make it easier for people with disabilities to access and understand the information presented. These include people with visual impairments, hearing impairments, cognitive disabilities, and mobility impairments.
The elderly: As people age, they may experience age-related conditions such as vision or hearing loss. Accessible brochure design can make it easier for them to access and understand information.
Non-native speakers: People who are not fluent in the language used in the brochure may benefit from accessible design, as it can make the information easier to understand. This not only makes your brochure easier to understand, but can potentially widen the scope of your audience.
Low-literacy readers: Accessible brochure design can also benefit people who have low literacy skills, as it can make the information easier to read and comprehend.
Busy people: Even people without disabilities or language barriers may benefit from accessible brochure design if they are in a hurry or need to quickly scan the information (scan reading is an increasingly common phenomenon). Clear design and layout can help to convey key messages quickly and effectively.
