Looks Matter: The Impact of Visual and Inclusive Design on Usability, Accessibility, and Online Learning

Authors

Sigrid Anderson Cordell, University Of MichiganFollow
Melissa Gomis, University of MichiganFollow

Date of this Version

2015

Citation

ACRL 2015, pp. 489–496, Association of College and Research Libraries 17th National Conference, Creating Sustainable Community, March 25–28, 2015, Portland, Oregon

Comments

Copyright © 2015 Sigrid Anderson Cordell and Melissa Gomis

Abstract

The recent expansion of digital scholarship has largely failed to take into account issues of accessibility and inclusive design. Likewise, the connection between accessibility and visual design is often overlooked in creating online learning tools. This gap is most often caused by an emphasis on delivering content rather than designing sites to be both visually appealing and effective in teaching concepts to students of all abilities and learning styles. In this chapter, we will argue that an emphasis on visual design in the creation of online learning objects enhances both accessibility and pedagogy.