Design systems for accessibility : Creating a sustainable methodology for workplaces within web development

Sammanfattning: Although accessibility benefits all users of the web, irrespective of their abilities and disabilities, many web applications fail to fulfill basic accessibility requirements. Designers and developers need to improve their work with accessibility in order for digital inclusion to be possible. This thesis investigated how a design system can support them in producing accessible applications. It used a design approach to formulate an accessibility methodology for creating and maintaining a design system. Interviews and ideation workshops were held to understand the problem and generate solutions. A methodology was put together and evaluated through expert reviews, focus grouping, and user testing. The thesis resulted in 10 guidelines for how to promote accessibility through a design system. Central to the guidelines was that companies adapt the work with accessibility to their specific situation, by setting their own goals and creating tools for the different stages of the employees' work processes. The thesis concluded a design system can help designers and developers not feel overwhelmed by accessibility requirements, and focus on what is relevant to the task they are currently performing. A design system that is merely a storage for components can only assist designers and developers with a fraction of the accessibility requirements. Greater potential is held by a design system that is made into a platform for accessibility, by providing guidance on how to use components and being referenced in testing procedures.