This week we were to attend an accessibility talk by David Fairbrother, from Big Motive. I have actually already attended this talk back during Belfast Tech Week but hopefully I can take away some new findings upon a second listen.
David spoke about accessibility not just as a design requirement, but as something that should be considered from the very beginning of a project. One statistic that stood out was the value of the UK disability market, which sits at around £278 billion. This really helped frame accessibility not only as an ethical responsibility, but also as a significant business consideration that is often overlooked
Another important point discussed was the range of disabilities that users may experience. It was highlighted that around 3,000 people experience disabilities in varying forms, but what really resonated with me was the emphasis on temporary and situational disabilities. Examples such as having a thick accent, an ear infection, or even being in a noisy environment helped demonstrate that accessibility isn’t just about permanent disabilities.
This broadened my understanding of accessibility and made it feel far more relevant to everyone. At some point, most users will experience a situation where accessible design directly benefits them.
The talk also covered practical design considerations, such as colour contrast, text size, and overall layout and structure. These are often seen as simple or obvious requirements, but when ignored, they can completely prevent users from accessing content. It reinforced the idea that accessibility issues often stem from poor design decisions rather than technical limitations.
What I found particularly useful was how these considerations link back to content and layout choices. Good accessibility doesn’t have to compromise aesthetics; instead, it encourages clearer communication and more thoughtful design.
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Even though this was my second time attending this talk, I still found it really valuable. Hearing the same information again, especially alongside everything else we’ve covered in this module, helped solidify how central accessibility is to good design.
The focus on temporary and situational disabilities really stuck with me, as it made accessibility feel less abstract and more personal. It reinforced the idea that accessible design isn’t about designing for a minority, but about designing better for everyone. This is something I want to continue to be mindful of in my own work, particularly when it comes to content, layout, and usability.
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