The document outlines design rules for user experience focused on accessibility for older users. It discusses foundations of UX design including accessibility considerations for devices, vision and hearing, mobility, and cognitive abilities. Specific guidelines are provided around font sizes, button sizes, screen readers, progress feedback, and dividing user attention. The document sources its information from Smashing Magazine, ComScore, and other accessibility resources.

1. User Experience
for the Experienced
Accessible Design for All Ages

2. Foundations of UX: Design Rules
1. Accessibility
a. Devices
b. Vision & Hearing
2. Mobility
a. Motor Control
3. Cognitive
a. Memory
b. Attention
c. Decision-making
[Source of ‘ElderUX Design Rules’: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2015/02/designing-
digital-technology-for-the-elderly]

3. 1a. Devices (Accessibility)
• Avoid small-screen devices (i.e. phone).**
DO: Compare legibility of
screen fonts on phones,
tablets, and computers.
Phone Tablet / Computer
Lumosity Mobile App
Lumosity Website

4. **The Exception to the Rule
• Avoid small-screen devices (i.e. phone).**
[Source of comScore-based graphic: http://marketingland.com/digital-growth-now-coming-
mobile-usage-comscore-171505]
DO: Use a mobile-
first strategy when
designing for web,
mobile, and other
digital products.
DO: Check how a
responsive design
renders across
mobile platforms
(Ex. iOS, Android)
and device versions.

5. 1a. Devices (Accessibility)
• Don’t rely on SMS (i.e. text) to convey important
information.
DO: Check font sizes of
alerts on all devices.
Text Messages Alerts

6. 1b. Vision & Hearing (Accessibility)
• Avoid font sizes smaller than 16 pixels, or let people
adjust text size themselves.
[Steven Hoober sells ‘Mobile Touch Template’ for $4 at: http://4ourth.com/TouchTemplate/]
DO: Measure fonts using a mobile touch template.
Make fonts legible—especially in a native mobile app.
Mobile Touch Template

7. 1b. Vision & Hearing (Accessibility)
• Pay particular attention to contrast ratios with text.
DO: Use contrast ratios that follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
or Section 508 accessibility compliance.
Optimal Ratio = 4.5 : 1
[Web Access 101 (Effective Color Contrast): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-99RfyMCVU]
Comparing Text Sizes & Contrast Ratios
Pandora Spotify Insight Timer

8. 1b. Vision & Hearing (Accessibility)
• Avoid blue for important interface elements.
• Always test your product using screen readers.
• Provide subtitles when video or audio content is
fundamental to the user experience.
[Tools: https://www.3pillarglobal.com/insights/accessibility-testing-tools-and-techniques]
DO: Use screen readers such as Job Access with Speech (JAWS), and PDF Accessibility
Checker (PAC) to ensure the most inclusive user experience.

9. 2a. Motor Control (Mobility)
• Buttons on touch interfaces should be larger than
9.6 millimeters diagonally (at least 44 × 44 pixels
on an iPad).
• Forms and buttons
to be clicked with a
mouse should be at
least 11 millimeters
diagonally.
Button Sizes on Mobile Touch Template

10. [Human Interface Guidelines for:
iOS https://developer.apple.com/ios/human-interface-guidelines/visual-design/layout/
Android https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/index.html]
2a. Motor Control (Mobility)
• Pay attention to sizing in human interface guidelines.
• Reduce the distance
between form fields
used in a sequence.
Form Fields Used in a Sequence

11. 3a. Memory (Cognitive)
• Introduce product features gradually over time to
prevent cognitive overload. (Ex. Lumosity games)
• Avoid splitting tasks across multiple screens if they
require memory of previous actions.
(Ex. “Concentration” game)
• During longer tasks, give clear feedback on progress
and reminders of goals. (Ex. “Ebb and Flow” game)
• Provide reminders and alerts as cues for habitual
actions. (Ex. “Ebb and Flow” game)
[Analysis: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/elderux-brilliant-onlumosity-amanda-lopez-pmp]

12. 3b. Attention (Cognitive)
• Don’t be afraid of long-form text and deep content.
• Allow greater time for user interactions, such as
server timeouts or inactivity warnings.
(Ex. Lumosity’s speed fitness test)
• Avoid dividing users’ attention between multiple
tasks or parts of the screen.
(Ex. “Trouble Brewing” game)
[Analysis: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/elderux-brilliant-onlumosity-amanda-lopez-pmp]

13. 3c. Decision-making (Cognitive)
• Prioritize shortcuts to previous choices ahead of new
alternatives.
• Information framed as expert opinion may be more
persuasive (but don’t abuse this bias).
[Analysis: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/elderux-brilliant-onlumosity-amanda-lopez-pmp]

14. Questions?
Amanda Lopez, PMP
Email: AmcgLopez@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-lopez-pmp-4622562/
Portfolio: www.AmandaLopez.com