Why good design must work for everyone

Great design should never come at the expense of accessibility. The most elegant interface loses its power if a large portion of people can’t use it. That is why every website worth its salt is judged against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), created by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

Order in the Court. Justice in the Real World.

The legal benchmark across most of the world is WCAG AA compliance. This level balances practicality with inclusivity. At Logical, we don’t see AA as a finish line. We see it as the baseline.

“Making sure our websites go beyond WCAG AA requirements is something we take pride in,” says our developer Jared Lasiter. “The ability to ensure you’re working with the broadest audience means a lot to me.”

Jared points to Logical’s work on the UC Davis Website Project as one of the closest projects he’s ever been on to approach AAA compliance, which is often referred to as the “Holy Grail.” It was tested extensively with both keyboard and mouse navigation, a crucial step for users who cannot operate a traditional mouse.

Accessibility is a Mission

WCAG isn’t just a set of checkboxes. It’s tied directly to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which gives it both legal weight and moral responsibility. At its heart, WCAG is about making the web usable for as many people as possible.

Some of the fundamentals are deceptively simple:

  • Alt text for images so screen readers can describe what’s on the page
  • Color contrast ratios that make text easy to read
  • Screen reader compatibility for menus, forms, and dynamic content
  • Resizable text without breaking the layout
  • Keyboard navigation so no one is locked out because they can’t use a mouse

These basics not only serve people with visual, hearing, or motor challenges. They also improve the experience for everyone. Clearer forms, more readable text, and logical navigation reduce friction across the board.

The Three Tiers of WCAG

Think of WCAG as a ladder with three rungs:

  • Level A (Single A): The most basic barriers removed. For example, making sure images have alt text and that content is navigable without a mouse.
  • Level AA (Double A): The widely accepted standard. Covers broader issues like color contrast, text resizing, and consistent navigation. This is the level most lawsuits and legal actions reference and is what every company with a good conscience aims for.
  • Level AAA (Triple A): The highest and strictest standard. Includes requirements like sign language interpretation for videos and extremely high contrast ratios. Aspirational for most, practical for only a few.

Most organizations aim for AA compliance, but those who push toward AAA show real commitment to universal access.

Why This Matters

When accessibility is treated as an afterthought, people are excluded, and brands take on legal and reputational risk. When it is baked into the design from the start, the entire experience improves.

Accessible design is good UX and good UI. It reduces abandonment, builds trust, and opens the door to audiences who might otherwise be shut out.

At Logical, we call this balancing act form and function in service of everyone.

Get Results. Get Logical.

Universal access isn’t just the law. It is the right thing to do, and it creates stronger digital experiences. If your organization is aiming to meet WCAG AA standards — or wants to push beyond them — Logical can help.

Schedule a 30-minute consultation with us today.

The Constant is Results.