Making Your Canva Designs Accessible for Everyone
Learning Objectives
- Understand how to add alt text to images on Canva
- Learn to use Canva's colour contrast checker tool
- Identify key accessibility features in Canva and apply them to your designs
Introduction
This chapter focuses on making your designs more accessible using Canva. Designing with accessibility in mind is essential for inclusivity and reaching a broader audience effectively. You'll learn how to optimise your creations to be more user-friendly for people with disabilities, ensuring your designs can be enjoyed by everyone.
Lessons
Lesson 1: Adding Alt Text to Images
Alternative text, or alt text, plays a crucial role in making images accessible to visually impaired users. In Canva, adding alt text is straightforward.
Step 1: Select the image you want to add alt text to.
Step 2: Click on the "More" option in the toolbar.
Step 3: Choose "Add description" and enter your alt text in the provided field.
By describing the content or function of the image, you help screen readers convey the message of the visuals to users who rely on them.
Lesson 2: Using Colour Contrast Checker
Good colour contrast makes your text easily readable against its background, which is vital for viewers with visual impairments.
Step 1: Once you have selected a colour for your text, check the background colour.
Step 2: Use Canva's colour contrast checker tool to ensure the colours differ significantly in brightness and colour.
This tool helps in adhering to accessibility standards, which recommend specific contrast ratios for clear visibility.
Lesson 3: Ensuring Overall Design Accessibility
While Canva does not have a dedicated accessibility preview feature, you can still ensure your design is accessible.
Step 1: Review your alt text for clarity and relevance.
Step 2: Verify colour contrast for all important elements.
Step 3: Check text size and font readability. Ensure that your text is legible at various sizes and weights.
Practice
Try redesigning one of your previous Canva projects with accessibility in mind. Apply alt text, adjust colours for higher contrast, and switch to a more readable font. Notice how these changes impact the design's clarity and user engagement.
Create a simple poster design with the following accessibility features:
- Add alt text to at least two images
- Use high contrast colours for text and background
- Choose a clear, readable font
- Include text that is at least 12pt in size
FAQs
Can I automate alt text in Canva?
Currently, Canva requires manual entry of alt text for each image to ensure specificity and relevance to the visual content.
What should I keep in mind when writing alt text?
Include a concise description of the image's key elements and any text that is displayed within the image, enhancing understanding for those using screen readers.
How does colour contrast affect readability?
Poor colour contrast can make text difficult to read for those with limited vision or colour blindness. Strong contrast helps everyone discern the text against its background.
What's the minimum font size I should use for accessibility?
Use at least 12pt for body text and 14pt for headings to ensure readability for most users.
Jargon Buster
Alt Text: Textual description of an image, crucial for screen reader software and ensuring visuals are accessible.
Colour Contrast: The level of difference between the foreground (text) and background, important for text visibility.
Accessibility: The practice of making your designs usable to as many people as possible, including those with disabilities.
Screen Reader: Software that reads digital text aloud for people who are blind or have low vision.
Contrast Ratio: A numerical value that describes the difference in brightness between two colours, with higher ratios indicating better readability.
Wrap-up
In this chapter, we've covered the basics of making your Canva designs accessible. The goal is to ensure that your audience, regardless of disability, can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with your work. Keep practising these new skills in each project, and explore more advanced accessibility options as you progress. Your designs will not only look good but also feel good to everyone who interacts with them.
Roll your sleeves up and start applying these accessibility principles to your next Canva project. Remember, accessible design is good design for everyone.