{"id":12457,"date":"2025-09-12T11:50:05","date_gmt":"2025-09-12T10:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uxdesigninstitute.com\/blog\/?p=12457"},"modified":"2025-10-24T12:05:45","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T11:05:45","slug":"accessible-design-figma-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uxdesigninstitute.com\/blog\/accessible-design-figma-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"Accessible design in Figma: the top 5 skills for UX & UI designers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Accessibility is a major topic right now, and it\u2019s not just a passing trend. With regulations like the European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming into force, inclusive design is now a legal requirement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

UX and UI designers are under mounting pressure to create digital products that work for everyone. For many, that means quickly getting to grips with an unfamiliar discipline and learning new skills.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, AI is reshaping many aspects of the designer\u2019s work, including how we approach accessibility.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It feels like a lot to contend with. But actually, one of your go-to design tools is already built to support accessible design <\/span>and <\/span><\/i>help you leverage AI.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Yep, we\u2019re talking about Figma. If you know where to look, it\u2019s packed with tons of features, plugins and workflows that enable you to design inclusively by default.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this guide, we\u2019ll help you level up your Figma skills to become a more inclusive, accessibility-conscious designer. We\u2019ll highlight the most relevant skills to focus on, and show you how to use AI to boost your workflow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Designing for accessibility in the age of AI: what skills do you really need?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are two major shifts taking place in the digital design industry right now: the rising demand for accessibility, and the growing influence of AI.<\/span><\/p>\n

For UX and UI designers, this raises a big question: <\/span>which of my existing skills still matter, and what new skills do I need to learn?<\/b><\/p>\n

We know that AI is great at speeding things up. It can generate layouts, components and microcopy in seconds. It can even flag accessibility issues like low contrast colour pairings or missing alt text.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But what AI <\/span>can\u2019t <\/span><\/i>do is think like a human.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t understand your users, their needs and emotions, or the context around what you\u2019re building. Nor can it account for social nuance or show cultural sensitivity. That\u2019s where your human touch is critical, especially when it comes to accessible design.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s UX and UI designers must learn how to use AI to move faster and streamline repetitive tasks, and they must also double down on the skills that machines can\u2019t replicate. That means understanding accessibility principles, thinking critically about inclusive design patterns, and making sure that every design decision is grounded in empathy and real user needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

And this is where the dots start to join. Accessibility and AI aren\u2019t opposing forces. In fact, they can and should work together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First, you need to build a strong foundation in accessible design. Then you can use AI to help scale it, creating <\/span>design systems<\/span><\/a> and workflows that prioritise accessibility by default.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So here\u2019s the takeaway. <\/b>The most successful designers will be skilled in using AI to accelerate their workflow, but they\u2019ll also know when to pause and think. They\u2019ll have the ability to leverage smart tools and features, and the knowledge to make informed, human-centred decisions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s all about striking a balance, and one of the best tools to support that balance is Figma. In the next section, we\u2019ll take a closer look at why Figma has become the go-to platform for inclusive design.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Read also: <\/span><\/i>Will AI replace UX designers?<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

Figma is your go-to tool for inclusive design: here\u2019s why<\/strong><\/h2>\n

When it comes to building accessible digital products, Figma has become the go-to platform for most UX and UI designers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why? Because it\u2019s the same versatile, user-friendly tool we\u2019ve always known and loved, and now it\u2019s full of additional features and capabilities that support inclusive design.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what makes Figma such a powerful tool for designing accessible, inclusive products:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n