How can we make our design accessible while adding motion and gestures?

On the journey of the Google UX design certificate, I have learned many interesting topics and concepts. Considering accessibility while adding motion and gestures to the design was one of the fascinating topics which I wanted to share.

Adding motion to designs brings up new considerations to make sure that the product is accessible to all users. In this article, I will talk about a few things to ensure that designs are accessible when it comes to gestures and motion.

Accessibility Considerations for gestures and motions

• Provide alternative options to using gestures
• Think Critically about the speed and duration of motion
• Give users the ability to turn off a motion.

When we design a product we should make sure that a gesture is not the only way to complete a task. A gesture could just be one option, for example, we see a touch button on the screen for camera shots. But that isn’t the only way to get photos, the physical button on the phone’s side can also be used for the same purpose.

The speed and duration of a motion are also very important to consider. The World Wide Web Consortium(W3C) recommends that animations are under five seconds long in order to be accessible. Very fast motion can be disturbing and alarming to people. On the other hand, a motion that goes on for too long can be distracting.

Finally, give users the ability to turn off a motion. Nowadays, looping motion has become popular, especially with GIFs or autoplay. But looping motion can be intrusive.

Keeping these three considerations in mind while designing, we’ll be able to ensure that our designs are inclusive to all users.

Are you ready to address the design challenges to make accessible design while adding motion and gestures for your project? I’ll be keen to learn more about your design work. Let’s connect!