Keeping your visual brand accessible

What is accessibility?

Accessibility is ensuring that anyone can consume a product or service, regardless of how they are approaching it. There are laws about accessibility specific to your location, but designers should try to keep their work accessible anyway - why create something that excludes people from enjoying it?

There are already a lot of things to keep in mind when designing your visual brand, but it’s important to remember to keep it accessible, as well.

Here are three main aspects of accessibility to keep in mind when designing your visual brand:

#1: Make sure your logo is easy to read.

Some people choose to go with a logo that is just a simple icon or image - but if you choose to design a logo that highlights your company’s name with stylized text, it’s important to ensure it’s easy to read.

Avoid cursive or curly fonts that can be hard to understand!

#2: Create a few logo variations for contrast.

When creating your company’s logo, it’s important to have a few different versions: a colour version, a black version and a white version.

This way, you can ensure the logo has good contrast against whatever background colours you come across. White document? Use a bright colour version. Black website banner? Use the white version to stand out!

#3: Choose branded fonts that are simple.

It’s tempting to get creative and fun when designing your brand, but if your content is hidden in fancy fonts, your message will just get lost in the busyness!

Avoid curvy or curly fonts, and don’t italicize things unless absolutely necessary. Use a clear font that doesn’t confuse your customers - let your company and its personality shine!

These aren’t the only things to consider when making your visual brand accessible, but it’s a good place to start!

Don’t forget to look into your region’s accessibility laws and ensure your new logo and visual brand are up to those standards.