When most organisations hear “accessibility,” they think of compliance checklists and technical audits.
But the truth is, accessibility isn’t just about meeting regulations. It’s a mindset that sparks creativity and improves the visitor experience.
At Chaptr, we’ve found that when cultural and nonprofit organisations design with accessibility in mind from day one, their websites don’t just work for more people – they perform better, look sharper, and convert faster.
Accessibility is More Than a Legal Box-Tick
For years, accessibility has been framed as something you have to do. A long list of “don’ts”: don’t use this colour, don’t animate that image, don’t hide this text, don’t use small text.
But if you’re responsible for a cathedral, theatre, or orchestra website, you know that accessibility isn’t optional – it’s mission-critical. Arts and culture exist to connect people; exclusion, even unintentionally, breaks that promise.
The numbers speak for themselves: around 1 in 5 UK adults have a disability, meaning literally millions of people may face extra friction when using your site. When your site isn’t accessible, you’re effectively closing the doors on a fifth of your audience, and the friends and families who come with them.
The Creative Power of Constraint
Good design thrives on constraints. Colour limits, grid systems and tone of voice are all boundaries that force clarity and imagination. Accessibility works the same way.
We recently designed a new website for a cultural venue and, applying accessibility principles, didn’t restrict creativity; it enhanced it.
- High-contrast colour palettes improved legibility, made calls-to-action and alerts stand out, helped content remain readable in difficult lighting, and made brand elements more distinctive.
- Clear content hierarchies simplified complex information without dumbing it down, guiding users smoothly through pages.
- Motion and animations were kept to a minimum to create a calm, focused reading experience, but interactive cues such as subtle button hovers were retained, combining visual clarity with accessibility best practice.
The result? A brand experience that felt more authentic and more human, precisely because it respected how real people actually interact online.
Accessibility doesn’t mean beige. It means thoughtful. Every visual and written choice has a purpose.
Better for Users, Better for Performance
Here’s the part marketing managers love: accessible design also boosts performance metrics.
- Faster load times: Simpler structures, cleaner code, and optimised media reduce page weight, which Google and users both reward.
- Stronger SEO: Clear headings, alt text, and descriptive links help search engines understand your content, improving discoverability.
- Higher conversions: When forms, buttons, and ticket journeys are effortless to navigate, drop-off rates fall.
- Mobile first: Accessibility guidelines overlap with mobile best practices – a must when nearly 70% of website sessions now come from mobile devices.
Designing for everyone is simply good business sense.
Accessibility Builds Trust
In the cultural and nonprofit world, brand trust matters as much as beauty.
When visitors find your site easy to use, whether they rely on a screen reader, magnification, or just prefer clear language, you communicate empathy and professionalism before a single event ticket or donation.
We’ve seen this first-hand. For example, when we helped a cathedral client simplify their resource library, the change not only improved accessibility but also made information easier to find.
In our work with arts organisations, we’ve seen accessible redesigns lead to higher engagement; visitors spending more time on pages and returning more often.
Accessibility becomes part of your reputation. It’s a way of saying, “We see you, and we’ve thought about you”.
Six Simple Ways to Start Designing for Everyone
You don’t need to rebuild your site from scratch to make it more inclusive.
Here are quick wins your team can implement this quarter:
- Check your colour contrast. Use a free WCAG 2.2 tool like WebAIM’s contrast checker.
- Add alt text to every image. Make it meaningful, not mechanical.
- Review your headings. Structure pages logically so users (and Google) can follow your story.
- Test navigation with real people. Ask someone unfamiliar with your site to complete key tasks and note where they struggle.
- Write simply. Accessibility is as much about language as design, so plain English widens reach without losing personality.
- Use ARIA labels wisely. Make sure interactive elements, like buttons, menus, and icons, have clear ARIA labels so assistive technologies can describe their purpose. They shouldn’t replace semantic HTML, but enhance it where needed.
Each small change adds up. And when you’re ready for a full accessibility audit or redesign, start with empathy and creativity, not compliance.
The Takeaway
Accessibility isn’t the enemy of creativity, but the foundation of it.
When you treat inclusion as a design principle rather than a checklist, you make digital experiences that everyone can enjoy and that your team can be proud of.
Your next website project doesn’t need to choose between beautiful and usable. With the right mindset, it can (and should) be both.
Photo by Daniel Ali on Unsplash.