Advanced Usability and Accessibility

A four-week course teaching mid-career designers to create inclusive, accessible software — covering universal design principles, advanced usability heuristics, WCAG standards and tools, and advocacy.

Syllabus

Week 1: Human-Centered Design And Universal Design Principles — Delve into the essence of human-centered and universal design principles. Through the WHO's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health, develop proto-personas that reflect a deep understanding of empathy, usability, and accessibility factors.
Week 2: Advanced Usability Heuristics And Best Practices — Explore advanced usability methods and UI best practices. Utilize the Heurio Chrome extension for hands-on evaluation of digital products through usability heuristics.
Week 3: Advanced Accessibility Standards And Tools — Gain in-depth knowledge of WCAG AAA ratings and best practices for accessibility. Practice with tools like Chrome Lighthouse extensions to achieve data-driven accessibility scores, focusing on improving accessible colors, typography, and web content.
Week 4: Advocating For Usability And Accessibility — Learn to strategize and articulate your usability and accessibility findings into actionable recommendations. Create a compelling case study presentation, showcasing a set of recommendations that highlight your advanced skills and provide a ready-to-implement action plan.