The Accessible Design Reference and Specification Book : What Every Digital Designer Should Know

Design for everyone—without sacrificing beautiful design.

The Accessible Design Reference and Specification Book gives UX and UI designers the tools to meet compliance—and exceed expectations. Award-winning designer and educator Irene Pereyra makes accessibility approachable with clear answers to the most pressing design questions in a Q&A format, accompanied by real-world case studies, practical tips, and inspiring analogies.

Structured around 12 core areas—typography, color & contrast, navigation & structure, interactions & animations, images & video, context, human factors, assistive technologies, team & process, testing, laws & regulations, and history—this guide helps designers anticipate challenges and design accessibly from the start. Whether you’re working on websites, apps, or cross-platform digital products, this is your everyday desk reference for inclusive design.

Inside, you’ll find:

• 150+ illustrations and examples to visualize accessibility principles in action
• Up-to-date legal guidance on WCAG, ADA, Section 508, EAA, and other global standards
• Q&A-style organization answering common questions across 12 core design topics
• Case studies and analogies that connect abstract concepts to real-world practice
• A designer-first tone that balances creative inspiration with practical application

The book itself is carefully designed for all readers, offering tangible examples of accessible font, color, and layout choices.

Timely, accessible, and deeply practical, this is the book every UX, UI, product, and interaction designer needs to future-proof their design process—and ensure their work includes everyone.