World Usability Day 2024 and How Accessibility is Changing the Digital World
On November 12, Bratislava once again became the center of the UX community on the occasion of the 15th annual World Usability Day conference, where we are proud to be the general partner this year as well.
The theme of this year's event “Design for a Better World” brought a truly diverse range of lectures focused on accessibility and inclusivity of digital services, as well as design in public spaces. The opening lecture was dedicated to UX writing and how even legally complex text in digital services can be understandable and accessible to the general public. Subsequent lectures highlighted the issues of visual clutter in public spaces. The answer to the chaos of informational, transport, and sales elements is cleaner and more transparent design, strategic planning, and design manuals that will once again restore the beauty of public spaces.
UX Design Without Barriers - How to Make Digital Services Accessible to Seniors
Martin Krupa, co-founder of ui42, captivated the audience with his lecture on the topic “UX Design for Seniors.” He began by showing examples of designs from everyday life that were originally meant to simplify daily tasks but paradoxically complicate them even more. These moments clearly underscored why intuitive and accessible design is crucial, especially for seniors who face visual impairments, limited motor skills, or weakened cognitive abilities.
The aging population in Slovakia is a reality we cannot change. However, what we can change are digital services, websites, and applications to make them truly accessible to everyone - including seniors. Relying on the assumption that today's working-age generation will maintain their digital skills into retirement is a myth. Therefore, interfaces must be designed to suit all age groups. The European Union is also actively involved in this effort, introducing new regulations to support the accessibility of digital services in 2025, requiring compliance with WCAG 2.2 standards. These standards include rules for creating websites and applications that are accessible to all users.
In the conclusion of his lecture, Martin Krupa urged designers not to create solutions for the average user, because such a user does not exist. True UX design must reflect the diverse needs of people, remove barriers, and make digital services accessible to everyone, regardless of age or ability.
ui42 Workshop on Accessibility of Digital Products for Everyone
Following the lectures was a workshop on the topic “Digital Products for Everyone - Accessibility of Digital Products” conducted by Martin Krupa and Dušan Vereš, senior manager for UX and research at ui42. The goal of the workshop was to demonstrate and provide practical advice on how to adapt digital products for the widest possible range of users, including people with physical, cognitive, or sensory limitations, in accordance with the latest European Union regulations. Participants engaged in a small UX testing session, where they experienced firsthand, using special glasses and gloves, how challenging it is to navigate websites with impaired vision or when your motor skills do not cooperate.
World Usability Day 2024 once again brought inspiration and concrete steps on how to make design more attractive and usable in all areas of our lives. Thank you for allowing us to be part of it again, and see you next year!
