Inclusive digital design tips

Inclusive digital design tips – do’s and don’ts

These tips (posters) provide you with design rules to support the implementation of accessible design practices. Remember that it may be appropriate to use a combination of these design rules to support your users.

Do’s
- Use common patterns for design components.
- Use a linear, logical layout.
- Write in plain English.
- Display clear hints and error messages, with appropriate symbols, below text boxes.
- Provide content in a variety of mediums to support different preferences.
- Build in modern coding languages e.g. HTML 5 or later.
- Ensure code scripts are readable by, and work with, support tools.
- Test using keyboards for navigation and different browsers.
- Reduce screen complexity by providing white space and content that is not cluttered.
- Start with accessibility in mind and test regularly throughout the design process.
Don’ts
- Limit or provide inconsistent touch tap areas.
- Provide hint text in boxes that disappear when the box is clicked.
- Use complex technical terms.
- Quickly ‘time out’.
- Force mouse or screen use.
- Require excessive validation processes for online applications.
- Make dynamic content that requires a lot of mouse movement.
- Use decorative or cursive font styles.
- Allow video or audio content to play automatically.
Do’s
- Use common patterns for design components.
- Use a linear, logical layout.
- Write in plain English.
- Show clear hints and error messages below text boxes using simple words and icons.
- Provide content in a variety of mediums to support different preferences.
- Build in modern coding languages e.g. HTML 5 or later.
- Ensure code scripts are readable by, and work with, support tools.
- Test using keyboards for navigation and different browsers.
- Reduce on screen complexity by providing white space and content that is not cluttered.
- Include accessibility in the design as early as possible and test application of standards throughout.
Don’ts
- Limit or provide inconsistent touch tap areas.
- Provide hint text in boxes that disappear when the box is clicked.
- Use complex technical terms.
- Quickly ‘time out’.
- Force mouse or screen use.
- Require excessive validation processes for online applications.
- Make dynamic content that requires a lot of mouse movement.
- Use decorative or cursive font styles.
- Allow video or audio content to play automatically.
Do’s
- Use clear headings and simple language. Provide definitions if needed.
- Consider cultural context, like warnings for photos of deceased persons.
- Use images and videos to simplify and explain information.
- Provide guides and documents in a variety of languages.
- Use certified translators for critical information.
- Provide translations and custom help text on the same page.
- Consider how service changes may impact users who rely on consistency.
- Provide alternative contact methods, including interpreter services.
- Provide user feedback when an action is completed correctly.
- Provide translated error messages to support troubleshooting.
Don’ts
- Use complex layouts, structures or menus.
- Separate related information across different webpages.
- Provide video or audio information, unless also accompanied by text.
- Use complicated words, figures of speech or long blocks of text.
- Rely on automatic translations. Check translated terms for accuracy.
Do’s
- Ensure all videos have transcripts, captions and provide text descriptions for images.
- Provide content in a variety of mediums to support different preferences.
- Offer users options for how they interact with your service.
- Make it easy to access support services.
Don’ts
- Only show information in an image or video.
- Spread content all over a page.
- Rely on text size and placement for structure.
- Force mouse or screen use.
- Write uninformative links and headings – for example, Click here
Do’s
- Provide clear information on how safety concerns are reported and escalated.
- Offer a simple ‘quick exit’ function.
- Make it easy to restrict access from personal or shared accounts.
- Offer choice about how and when to receive information.
- Offer translation software that enables non-English speakers to access support.
- Use empathy in the tone of communications.
Don’ts
- Make users re-explain sensitive circumstances across government services.
- Send communications during hours where user action is unlikely to occur.
- Make users complete processes in a single session.
- Complicate validation steps for applications.
Do’s
- Allow users to start and stop processes across different communications channels.
- Accompany key takeaways with clear calls to action.
- Provide clear step by step instructions, to support key information and action points.
- Use progress indicators to show task advancement.
- Provide mobile responsive designs.
- Make it easy to reset passwords and build on tasks.
- Support older browsers and devices.
- Group related content together to improve discoverability.
- Use repeatable icons and visual cues to build user familiarity and confidence.
- Provide equivalent alternatives to auditory and visual content.
Don’ts
- Assume users have prior knowledge of digital tools.
- Play videos and audio content automatically.
- Use technical terminology.
- Limit the time available to complete tasks.
- Show error messages too quickly.
Do’s
- Respect user settings to remove motion.
- Let users manage auto-refresh.
- Consider animations carefully.
- Use images such as icons and symbols with text.
- Provide plenty of white space around information.
- Carefully consider information display and order.
- Use progressive reveal to reduce cognitive load.
- Use clear affordance to help navigation.
- Keep content short, clear and simple.
- Let users change the contrast between background and text.
Don’ts
- Rely on device/user movement.
- Use strobing or rapid flashing effects.
- Use all uppercase letters.
- Use text that is both left and right justified on the same page.
Do’s
- Design with ‘mobile first’ design patterns.
- Test in both vertical and horizontal views.
- Remove navigation that requires complex hand movement.
- Ensure the touch tap area is the widest possible area and consistent across the site.
Don’ts
- Create interactions that require precision.
- Put multiple interactions together.
- Have short time out windows or error messages that display too soon.
- Tire users with lots of typing and scrolling.
Do’s:
- Co-design digital services in partnership with First Nations Australians.
- Understand, engage and follow up with the community.
- Include the three pillars of the First Nations Digital Inclusion Plan.
- Be transparent about why information is requested.
- Use visual ways of communicating that are culturally safe and inclusive.
- Allow nominated support to complete transactions as devices are often shared.
- Consider custom design of content and artwork based on location and community.
- Build and test for areas with poor internet connectivity.
- Use mobile-first design patterns that minimise data consumption.
- Write in plain English.
Don’ts
- Assume or question kinship relations.
- Insist on information that might not be easily available.
- Display content in wordy paragraphs.
- Exclusively use Western/Anglo-Saxon terminology.
- Tie service provision to locations through geofencing (allow for roaming).
- Design data-heavy services as this will inhibit users with limited data and service restrictions.
- Have a pre-conceived area/idea of what will work.
- Assume what has worked in one community will work in another.
Do's:
- Use a linear, logical layout to make it simple for users.
- Provide clear step by step instructions, to support key information and action points.
- Give users choice and control options e.g. communication/contact methods.
- Consider imagery and videos used to ensure it is appropriate and respectful.
- Ensure that the diversity of the veteran community is represented in images and videos e.g. three services, gender, cultural background etc.
- Reduce the amount of time a client needs to spend navigating processes.
- Write with warmth, respect and sensitivity.
- Avoid labels, contentious terms, jargon or distressing language.
- Limit opportunities for messages to be misunderstood or cause distress.
- Explain why certain information is required to complete tasks.
Don'ts
- Make users re-explain sensitive circumstances across government services.
- Assume users have prior knowledge of digital tools.
- Play videos and audio content automatically.
- Use complex, bureaucratic or overcomplicated language. If used, define it.
- Separate related information across webpages.
- Display content in wordy paragraphs.
- Overuse formatting as it can be confronting e.g. bold, capitals, exclamation marks, red text.
- Hide any security or safety features of the site or app.

Downloadable resources

Inclusive digital design do’s and don’ts posters

Inclusive digital design tips

Inclusive digital design tips – do’s and don’ts

Downloadable resources

Inclusive digital design do’s and don’ts posters

General inclusion poster

Blind or vision impaired poster

CALD poster

Deaf or hard of hearing poster

Family and domestic violence poster

Low digital literacy poster

Neurodiverse poster

Physical disability

Veteran community

Connect with the digital community