Amy spoke about some of the ways the GOV.UK Design System has helped to make government services accessible, so that they work for everyone. In particular, Amy explained how using clear, inclusive documentation helps to build empathy and promote best practice when it comes to designing for accessibility. About Amy Following 6 years as a researcher, copywriter and editor at the UK consumer’s association, Which?, Amy now works as a Senior Content Designer at the Government Digital Service (GDS). In her 3 half years at GDS, Amy has lead the content strategy for the GOV.UK Design System, including a straightforward and inclusive approach to documentation.

2. Amy Hupe
Senior Content Designer
GOV.UK Design System team
@Amy_Hupe

3. GDS
This is a text slide
I work at the
Government
Digital Service

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10. 1 website
25 departments
700+ service teams

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MoJ
GDS DWP HMRC
Home
Office
GDS

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Government services have to:
- meet level AA of the Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1)
- work on assistive technologies
- include disabled people in user research
- publish an accessibility statement

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Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile
Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility
Regulations 2018.

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How can a design system promote
accessible design within an organisation?
@Amy_Hupe

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A design system can promote accessible
design by:
- baking it in
- explaining it
- leading by example
- teaching it
@Amy_Hupe

23. Bake it in

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Designing for users
of screen readers
poster by the
Home Office

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29. Explain it

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@WeTheColorBlind
Because I am
colour blind
Reasons why I hate pie charts

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34. Lead by example

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40. Teach it

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“A set of connected patterns and shared
practices, coherently organised to serve the
purposes of a digital product”
Alla Kholmatova, Design Systems
@Amy_Hupe

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To make a design system successful, we
have to help people:
- find it
- use it
- contribute to it
@Amy_Hupe

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1. Bake it in
2. Explain it
3. Lead by example
4. Teach it
@Amy_Hupe

49. What a design
system can’t do

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A design system doesn’t take away the need
for contextual user research
@Amy_Hupe

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A design system can’t make an organisation
care about accessibility
@Amy_Hupe

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54. What can I do?

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Read up and learn about accessibility
@Amy_Hupe

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Follow #a11y on Twitter
@Amy_Hupe

57. GDS
“Improve the accessibility of just one thing”
Léonie Watson
@Amy_Hupe

58. GDS
BE
LESS
SHIT
@Amy_Hupe

59. Thanks!
Amy Hupe
@Amy_Hupe