Accessibility means equal opportunities for people to use different services, visit places and websites and experience the world on equal terms, regardless of their physical and mental abilities, age and other special needs. Accessible design and spatial planning is something we encounter every day without even noticing it – ramps on buildings, beeping traffic lights and medicine packets with information in Braille are just a small part of what makes the environment around us accessible.
On websites, including ours, you may come across accessibility tools that allow you to change text size, contrasts, fonts and more. On our site, the accessibility menu is located in the bottom left corner of the screen. We recommend that you consult it even if you don’t need to.
Because everyone deserves the same experience, regardless of their abilities and special needs. It is important for people to feel that they are a full part of society and that everyone benefits from the fact that people with special needs can contribute to society.
For a business, the simplest example is when a customer in a wheelchair wants to visit a shop to make a purchase, but there is one flight of stairs in front of your shop door and no ramp. That single staircase deprives the customer of the goods they need and the business misses out on a valuable customer.
The same can happen when you visit websites. A visually impaired customer may have a strong interest in buying from your online shop, but because the website is not accessible, it is simply not possible for them to do so. The problem can arise from navigating the website, but also, for example, from using the bank links to complete the purchase after selecting the products. It is therefore important to check such things and, if possible, correct them. If you are interested in improving the accessibility of your website, please visit our main website skald.ee or contact us directly at ahhoi@skald.ee and we will help you to identify and resolve the issues.
In the case of logos, accessibility can be assessed at different levels. If it is used on the web, there must be sufficient colour contrast with the background. If the colour contrast is poor, it will be very difficult to see and read and the logo will lose its functionality completely. The same applies to texts, headlines and other design elements. In order to ensure that a visually impaired person who uses a screen reader can also have a full experience on your website, you should include an alternative text, or alt text, on your logo that describes your logo in words. This can be very comprehensive or minimal, but even a simple description of “company logo” is better than nothing.
You should also look at contrast rules in print, so that the background colour or background photo does not overpower the logo. Different tools can be used to check the contrast of the logo’s primary and background colours. We recommend using the WebAIM contrast tool, for example, which you can find here. With this tool, you can see if the colour contrasts comply with the requirements of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
For printed materials, it is also possible to emboss your logo and other design materials using embossing techniques. This way, your customers and potential partners can feel the logo under their fingers. As well as being accessible, it’s also simply a way to stand out and create something memorable!
The first thing we do is that we never choose logo colours that are not contrasting enough, if the colours overlap. If there is a strong request from the client to use such colours, we will certainly mention it. Creating separate logo files and versions for use on dark and light backgrounds also helps to ensure accessibility.
If the client orders a logo booklet, both a simpler and a more detailed version, in addition to the logo, it will contain instructions for using the logo on different backgrounds. The instructions will be written in such a way that it is easy for the client to use the logo in any situation, without having to worry about whether it is correct and compliant. For a more detailed version, the document will also include a descriptive alternative text of the logo that can be used online.
There are bound to be special situations from time to time where guidance is lacking. In this case, the client who has ordered a logo manual can feel free to contact us and we will advise on how best to place the logo in the appropriate context.
You can also find more information on accessibility on the website of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.
If what you’ve read has made you think it’s time to order a new logo for your business, check out our services, choose the package that’s right for you, and we’ll make you a great-looking, functional logo that you can use anywhere, with no hassle. If you have any questions about what you’ve read, or if you’d like to order any of our other design services, contact us!
