How to use Figma to run accessibility audits and iterate on UI contrast, focus order, and semantic structure effectively
This evergreen guide demonstrates practical, field-tested methods for leveraging Figma to audit accessibility, refine contrast relationships, optimize focus sequencing, and strengthen semantic structure, ensuring inclusive, resilient interfaces.
Accessibility in design is not a one-off task but a continuous discipline that grows with your project. In Figma, teams can start by auditing color contrast across key UI elements, then expand to evaluating focus order and the underlying semantic structure that informs screen readers. Begin with a simple contrast check by selecting foreground and background swatches and enabling the built-in accessibility panel to reveal pass/fail results against WCAG standards. Next, map focus order using a logical sequence that aligns with user goals, ensuring keyboard users can traverse interactive components intuitively. Finally, verify semantic structure by tagging layers with meaningful names and grouping related elements to reflect real page semantics.
A practical workflow for ongoing accessibility work in Figma begins with establishing a shared vocabulary. Create color tokens and contrast ratios in a dedicated library, so designers and developers speak the same language when discussing accessibility outcomes. Use components for interactive elements—buttons, inputs, and menus—and attach variant states (default, hover, focus, error) to inspect how changes affect contrast and focus behavior in real time. Leverage plugins that enforce accessibility constraints, but pair them with manual checks to catch nuanced cases like decorative vs. meaningful images or non-text content. Periodic reviews with stakeholders help keep accessibility front and center during iterative design.
Build systemic patterns that scale across projects and teams
The first pillar of this approach is a repeatable audit routine that anyone on the team can execute. Start with a baseline accessibility audit: run a color contrast scan on primary components, headings, and CTAs, and document any violations with suggested fixes. Then proceed to a focus-order audit by tracing a logical path through the UI, ensuring that tabbing follows an expected, user-centered sequence. This should be complemented by a keyboard-only navigation test to identify any traps or ambiguities that obstruct access. Finally, map semantic structure by labeling layers with descriptive names, grouping related items, and aligning their order to the reading flow. The resulting records become a living reference for future iterations.
To keep momentum, translate audit findings into concrete design decisions. For color, apply accessible tokens and ensure sufficient contrast across light and dark modes, testing with real UI components rather than isolated swatches. For focus, adjust tab indices and visual cues, making sure focus rings are visible and distinctive against all backgrounds. For semantics, refine component naming and aria-relationship hints so assistive technologies can convey intent accurately. Document these adjustments in a shared design system, linking back to the original issues so developers can implement them consistently. This creates an efficient feedback loop where design changes quickly translate into accessible interfaces.
Use storytelling to guide accessibility improvements and priorities
Scaling accessibility practices requires turning insights into scalable patterns. Create a central library of accessible components with enforced contrast guidelines, focus states, and semantic labeling. When a new project begins, reuse these components as a foundation, avoiding ad-hoc compromises that erode accessibility. Use Figma variants to simulate different states and test how each state behaves under keyboard interaction. Establish guardrails for color; require accessible tokens to govern color choices, ensuring consistency across pages. Regularly review tokens and components with developers, so implementation details stay aligned with design intent. This disciplined setup reduces risk and speeds up rollout of inclusive interfaces.
Another lever is documentation that travels with the design. Add context to components through notes about intended usage, accessibility considerations, and recommended testing steps. Include quick-start checklists for audits that new team members can follow, so onboarding becomes smoother and faster. When designing complex widgets, create a decision log explaining why certain contrast thresholds or focus patterns were chosen, linking to WCAG guidance as needed. Clear rationale helps teams resist backsliding during tight deadlines, and it also provides a durable record for future audits or redesigns.
Leverage Figma’s tools to validate and refine accessibility
Accessibility work benefits from storytelling that ties user needs to concrete design decisions. Start by describing a typical user journey that highlights potential pain points around color perception, keyboard navigation, and screen reader cues. Use this narrative to guide focus-order adjustments, ensuring the sequence mirrors natural workflows and cognitive expectations. Present color decisions as a story about readability in various lighting conditions and accessibility for users with color vision deficiencies. The narrative approach makes trade-offs tangible and helps non-design stakeholders understand the value of investing in contrast and semantic structure, while keeping the team aligned on goals and outcomes.
As you build this narrative, tie tests to real-world scenarios. Create test cases reflecting diverse users, including those who rely on keyboard-only navigation, screen readers, or high-contrast modes. Document observable behaviors and measurable outcomes—such as successful focus transitions and accurate aria labeling—so you can verify improvements after each iteration. Use prototypes to simulate assistive-tech experiences and invite feedback from specialists or users with accessibility needs. The goal is to transform abstract guidelines into lived, testable experiences that inform every design decision and foster a culture of inclusion.
Create durable practices that endure beyond individual projects
Figma offers a suite of features that help validate accessibility across disciplines. Use color styles and tokens to maintain consistent contrast across components, ensuring any change propagates through the design system. The Focus Order panel, along with keyboard navigation testing, helps you verify that logical sequences align with user expectations. Semantic structure is reinforced by naming conventions and proper grouping, which assistive technologies rely on to describe page content. During audits, export reports that summarize issues and recommended fixes, so developers can implement changes with precision. Pair automated checks with human reviews to capture subtleties that machines might miss.
For ongoing refinement, integrate accessibility into the design review process. Make accessibility a standing agenda item in critiques and ensure that new patterns respect contrast and semantics from the outset. When updating components, consider how changes affect existing projects and ensure backward compatibility where possible. Use version control to track accessibility-related decisions, including rationale and testing results. The combination of automated checks, expert review, and traceable decisions provides a robust framework for continuous improvement that stretches across teams and products.
Finally, cultivate durable practices that outlive any single project. Establish a cadence of quarterly accessibility audits across portfolios to catch drift early and prevent regressions. Invest in ongoing education by sharing case studies, success stories, and lessons learned with the broader organization, reinforcing why accessibility matters. Encourage designers to experiment with bold ideas while maintaining guardrails for contrast and semantics, so creativity remains compatible with inclusion. Track metrics that matter—contrast compliance, focus-path coherence, and semantic accuracy—to quantify progress and demonstrate value to leadership.
Sustained momentum also depends on cross-disciplinary collaboration. Pair designers with developers, testers, and content strategists to review accessibility outcomes from multiple angles. Create lightweight handoffs that translate design intent into accessible implementation details, preventing misinterpretation during handoff. Foster a culture of curiosity where questions about accessibility drive deeper exploration rather than surface-level fixes. Over time, teams will internalize best practices, making accessible design the default rather than the exception, and the UI will become more usable, inclusive, and resilient for all users.
