How to Create Accessible Prototypes in Axure Cloud

Creating accessible prototypes is essential in today’s design landscape. Whether you’re building a mobile app, website, or enterprise system, it’s important to ensure your prototypes are usable by everyone—regardless of their abilities or disabilities. Axure Cloud offers a robust set of features that can help designers build prototypes that are both interactive and accessible. In this blog, we’ll explore how you can create accessible prototypes in Axure Cloud and why accessibility should be a top priority in your design process.

Why Accessibility Matters in Prototyping

Before diving into the steps for creating accessible prototypes in Axure Cloud, let’s first discuss why accessibility is so important:

• Legal Compliance: Many countries have laws and regulations requiring digital products to be accessible to people with disabilities. In the U.S., for example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) mandates that websites and apps be accessible to all users.
• Inclusive Design: By prioritizing accessibility, you’re creating a better experience for all users, not just those with disabilities. Features like keyboard navigation, readable fonts, and clear color contrasts benefit everyone.
• Wider Audience Reach: Making your prototypes accessible ensures that you cater to a broader audience, which could lead to greater engagement, higher conversion rates, and improved customer satisfaction.

Now that we’ve established the importance of accessibility, let’s explore how to incorporate it into your Axure Cloud prototypes.

Steps to Create Accessible Prototypes in Axure Cloud

1. Use Proper Color Contrast

Why It Matters:

Color contrast is essential for users with visual impairments, such as color blindness or low vision. Without adequate contrast, text and important elements might be difficult to read.

How to Implement:

• Ensure Sufficient Contrast: Use color combinations that meet WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards for contrast. For text, the contrast ratio should be at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
• Use Axure’s Color Tools: Axure Cloud allows you to select and adjust color settings. Be sure to test your color palette for accessibility using online contrast checkers before finalizing your design.
• Test with Simulations: Axure Cloud has features that let you simulate the color vision of users with different types of color blindness. Use this to check your prototype’s accessibility.

2. Provide Text Alternatives for Images and Media

Why It Matters:

Images, videos, and other media elements are important for conveying information, but they may not be accessible to users who rely on screen readers or have visual impairments. Text alternatives (alt text) ensure that these users understand the content.

How to Implement:

• Use Alt Text for Images: When adding images to your Axure Cloud prototype, ensure that each image has descriptive alt text. This allows screen readers to convey the content and context of the image.
• Include Transcripts for Videos: If you’re including videos, always provide transcripts or captions. This helps users with hearing impairments or those who prefer to read content.
• Avoid Decorative Images: Only use images that serve a functional or informative purpose. Decorative images should have null alt text (alt=””) to avoid cluttering screen readers with irrelevant information.

3. Ensure Keyboard Navigability

Why It Matters:

Some users cannot use a mouse due to motor impairments and rely on keyboard navigation. Ensuring that your prototype can be fully navigated using a keyboard improves accessibility for these users.

How to Implement:

• Enable Tab Navigation: Ensure that all interactive elements in your prototype—buttons, links, forms—are focusable and accessible via the “Tab” key. This allows users to navigate through the prototype without a mouse.
• Logical Tab Order: Make sure that the tab order of your elements follows a logical flow. This ensures users can move through the elements in a meaningful order.
• Custom Actions in Axure Cloud: Use Axure’s dynamic panels and interactions to create a smooth, keyboard-friendly experience. You can customize the tab order and use the “onKeyUp” event to trigger actions based on keyboard input.

4. Create Clear and Consistent Navigation

Why It Matters:

Navigation consistency is critical for all users, especially those with cognitive impairments or new users. A confusing or inconsistent navigation system can frustrate users and make it difficult for them to understand how to interact with your prototype.

How to Implement:

• Maintain Consistent Layouts: Use consistent layouts across different screens in your prototype. This will help users learn where to find key elements like navigation menus, buttons, and content.
• Provide Clear Labels: Ensure that navigation links, buttons, and menus have clear, descriptive labels. Avoid vague labels like “Click here” and use labels that indicate the action or destination, like “Submit Form” or “Go to Dashboard.”
• Test with Users: Run usability tests with users who have different abilities to ensure that the navigation is intuitive. This will help you identify potential areas of confusion.

5. Use Accessible Form Elements

Why It Matters:

Forms are integral to many digital experiences, but poorly designed forms can pose significant barriers for users with disabilities. Accessible forms help all users, including those who rely on screen readers or alternative input devices.

How to Implement:

• Use Proper Labels: Every form element, such as text fields, checkboxes, and radio buttons, should have clear and descriptive labels that explain what the user is expected to input.
• Group Related Fields: Use Axure’s grouping features to visually group related form fields. This makes it easier for users to understand which fields belong together.
• Error Messages: When a user makes a mistake in a form (e.g., leaving a required field blank), provide clear, helpful error messages. Ensure that these messages are accessible by screen readers and visible without needing to scroll.

6. Test for Screen Reader Compatibility

Why It Matters:

Screen readers are widely used by people with visual impairments. Testing your Axure prototype for screen reader compatibility ensures that users can fully interact with your prototype.

How to Implement:

• Use ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) Landmarks: ARIA landmarks help screen reader users navigate your prototype more easily. These landmarks provide additional context, such as headings, navigation areas, and main content sections.
• Screen Reader Testing: Use tools like VoiceOver (for Mac) or NVDA (for Windows) to test how well your prototype works with screen readers. Ensure that all interactive elements are correctly labeled and accessible.
• Semantic Markup: Ensure that the prototype uses semantic HTML tags if you plan to hand off your Axure Cloud prototype to developers. This helps maintain accessibility when the prototype is built into a live website or app.

7. Provide Alternatives for Complex Interactions

Why It Matters:

Some users may struggle with complex gestures or interactions, such as swiping on mobile or dragging elements. Providing alternatives helps ensure everyone can use your prototype.

How to Implement:

• Offer Keyboard Shortcuts: For actions that require complex gestures, such as dragging or swiping, provide keyboard shortcuts as alternatives. This ensures that users can still perform actions without relying on touch or mouse interactions.
• Simplify Interactions: Keep interactions simple and intuitive. For example, avoid requiring multiple gestures or clicks to complete a task. If your prototype involves swiping or dragging, consider offering a button alternative.

Conclusion

Creating accessible prototypes is not just about meeting legal requirements; it’s about ensuring that your designs are inclusive and user-friendly for everyone. By using Axure Cloud’s powerful features—such as color contrast settings, text alternatives, keyboard navigability, and form accessibility—you can build prototypes that cater to a diverse range of users.

Key Takeaways:

• Ensure color contrast to help users with visual impairments.
• Use alt text for images and transcripts for videos to make media accessible.
• Enable keyboard navigation for users who cannot use a mouse.
• Maintain clear and consistent navigation throughout your prototypes.
• Test for screen reader compatibility to support users with visual impairments.

By following these best practices, you’ll create prototypes that are both functional and accessible, leading to more inclusive products and better user experiences.

Ready to create accessible prototypes in Axure Cloud? Start designing today and ensure your prototypes are inclusive for all users! Want to learn more about accessibility best practices? Subscribe to our newsletter for more insights and tips.