Jessica Engström
Talk
Practical tips to improve your UX and accessibility
Speaker's Biography
Jessica was recently added to Women Who Code's "Technologist to Watch 2023" list and has been a Microsoft MVP for over 9 years. Her passion for the community can be seen in her activities like teaching, organizing, and speaking at conferences all over the world, running a podcast (Coding After Work), and streams (MarriedGeeks & CodingAfterWork).
She spends too much money on Lego and in her spare time and loves to drive her EV.
Talk Abstract
In the fast-paced world of development, it can be challenging to keep up with the myriad of UX principles, laws, and rules. Yet, these principles are crucial for accommodating the various abilities and limitations inherent to the human experience, such as differences in perception, focus, and even sight.
All too often, accessibility is treated as an afterthought in the development process. Yet, it should be a primary consideration, not simply because "someone might have a hard time seeing colors," but because an accessible solution is inherently more user-friendly.
Jessica will guide you through a series of common accessibility issues and UX shortcomings, providing step-by-step instructions on how to avoid and remedy these challenges. This isn't about mastering hundreds of principles; instead, it's about understanding and implementing practical strategies that will have a significant impact on your users' experience.
With a slight shift in perspective—acknowledging the human user, with all their strengths and limitations at the other end of your product—you'll notice a significant enhancement to the user experience, and subsequently, your development process.
I will outline a few simple steps to begin improving your UX and accessibility. This practical guidance is applicable regardless of your development platform—desktop, web, or mobile. By integrating accessibility from the onset, you are not only creating a more inclusive environment but also improving the overall user experience—a win-win for all.
Join me to learn, grow, and make your digital products more accessible and user-friendly!