The Sage Mages

The ADA changed more than architecture and physical access. It strengthened the expectation that information, services, and experiences should not exclude people because of disability. Traditional design education often emphasizes hierarchy, consistency, memorability, emotion, differentiation, and visual appeal. Those qualities still matter. But the ADA asks us to consider another measure of success: Can people actually access and use what we designed?

Creating graphics that everyone finds moving is more important than ever to every size of business. When teams plan beyond aesthetics and target markets by focusing on accessibility and usability for all they can ensure their reach multiplies in effectiveness. This kind of strategy is especially helpful to those who have ethical brand values and a diverse audience, including those with disabilities or different cultural backgrounds.

A font change shouldn’t be front-page news. And yet here we are because we know this one has the ability to impact millions of lives. In early December, the U.S. State Department directed staff to return to Times New Roman and stop using Calibri, reversing a 2023 shift that was introduced to improve readability and accessibility for people with disabilities.