When you launch your go-to app, chances are you don’t give much thought to whether or not you can read the text easily, navigate using a keyboard, or decipher a video with insufficient audio. For millions of people globally, though, those subtle distinctions make the difference between being able to use a product at all. That necessity is served by accessibility in UX design, and it is the underpinning for designing inclusive digital products as opposed to an afterthought.
It’s not a “nice to have” in 2025 to be available. It’s a corporate imperative, a legal mandate, and an ethical one. Let’s examine what accessibility is to UX designers now, its principles, practical applications, and future possibilities.