Accessible document design
Documents that look great, work properly, and include more people
Many digital PDFs are labelled “accessible”, but in practice they often fall short — missing WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) and PDF/UA requirements and, more importantly, failing the people who rely on assistive technology to read and navigate them.
Accessible document design isn’t just a legal checkbox. It reduces frustration, helps prevent quiet disengagement, protects your reputation, and makes your content easier for everyone to use.
You don’t need to understand the technical complexity. Documents by Design takes care of the details, so your documents meet recognised accessibility standards while remaining clear, usable, and visually well-designed.
Accessibility built in from the start
When accessibility is considered from the beginning, there’s no compromise. Design decisions are stronger, content is clearer, and remediation later is often avoided entirely.
I design accessible documents from the ground up — integrating accessibility into every stage of the process, rather than retrofitting it at the end.
That means your document:
Is visually clear and on-brand
Has accessibility built in from the start making future updates easier
Works seamlessly with screen readers and text-to-speech software
Meets WCAG and PDF/UA requirements
What accessible document design includes
Accessible documents must be both visually effective and technically sound. That includes:
Thoughtful use of colour, contrast, and typography
Clear hierarchy and logical structure
Proper tagging and language settings for screen readers
Correct reading order and heading structure
Tidy text structure, eliminating blank lines and utilising invisible space
Meaningful alt text for images
Well-structured lists, tables, and links
Testing with screen readers and accessibility checkers
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set the minimum standards for accessibility. Designing with these guidelines in mind ensures your documents can be accessed and understood by as many people as possible.
Accessible graphic design brings all of this together — it’s the most effective way to meet the guidelines and deliver a polished, professional result that fits your brand and appeals to your target audience.
Documents I can design
Accessible design is suitable for both digital and print, including:
• Brochures and marketing materials • Lead Magnets • Company reports • Annual reviews • White papers and policy documents • Newsletters • Ebooks and magazines • MS Office documents • Campaign assets and supporting materials • Publications
If it’s a document people need to read, understand, or navigate — it should be accessible.
Let’s design it right, right from the start
Accessible document design doesn’t have to be overwhelming, expensive, or restrictive. When done well, it simply becomes good design.
If you’re planning a new document and want to make sure it looks great and works for everyone, I’d love to help.
Get in touch to talk through your project or ask any questions — no judgement, just practical guidance.
