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Accessible Design Systems: The Engineering Architecture Checklist

Guidelines for architecting accessible design tokens, keyboard navigation models, focus rings, and Storybook automated testing gates.

TaggedWorks Systems Group
Publié le : 2024-04-18
10 min de lecture

Normes référencées

WCAG 2.2W3C Design TokensWAI-ARIA 1.2
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Accessible Token Architecture

Never define raw color palettes without verified background-foreground pairings. Color tokens should be semantic (e.g., color-text-primary, color-surface-elevated) rather than descriptive (color-gray-700). Every pairing must be programmatically checked against the WCAG AA ratios of 4.5:1 (normal text) and 3:1 (large text and non-text UI components).

Keyboard Interaction Contracts

Every UI primitive must have an explicitly documented keyboard interaction contract:

  • Button: Enter and Space trigger the action.
  • Tabs: Tab moves into the tablist; Arrow keys navigate between tabs; Tab moves out to tabpanel.
  • Modal Dialog: Tab is trapped within the open modal; Escape closes the dialog; focus returns to the triggering button.
  • Accordion: Enter/Space expands/collapses the section.

Universal Focus Ring System

Design systems must provide a global focus indicator that passes WCAG 2.2 SC 2.4.13. Avoid using light blue outlines that disappear against white backgrounds. A 2-3px solid ring with an offset or contrasting double-outline guarantees visibility against any background.

Automated CI & Storybook Verification

Integrate @storybook/addon-a11y directly into your component workflow. Configure automated pull request checks that fail the build if an updated component violates axe-core rules.

TW

TaggedWorks Systems Group

Pôle de recherche et d'ingénierie en accessibilité numérique

Les publications de recherche de TaggedWorks sont rédigées par des ingénieurs et spécialistes praticiens. Nos préconisations reflètent les interprétations actuelles des WCAG 2.2, les comportements des navigateurs et les matrices de compatibilité des technologies d'assistance.