Accessibility as a Design-First Standard
Accessibility often arrives at the end of a project as a list of fixes. I bring it in at the start, where it shapes what gets built.
PlayStation · Messaging and PS App navigation
Before FY26 to Apr 2026
Hands-on designer on messaging accessibility, then UX Manager and decision owner on navigation
A mobile designer and a low-vision participant
Console, mobile
The situation
Two projects show the approach. Earlier, I designed TTS and STT for messaging, so players could send and receive messages without typing or reading. Later, a PS App navigation redesign proposed removing text labels, which raised real questions for people using large text and large icons.
What I decided
Test with the people it affects. Rather than judging five navigation concepts (A to E) on appearance, I evaluated them with a low-vision participant and a mobile designer at the largest text sizes.
Weight what matters. I proposed a scoring model that put perceivability and understanding first and limited aesthetics to 15 to 20 percent.
Calibrate before deciding. When an early rating did not match what I observed, I clarified the participant's assumptions and recalibrated.
5
Concepts evaluated
15 to 20%
Aesthetics weighted
How the team carried it
The mobile designer and I worked through each concept together, and I documented the rationale so anyone could follow it. Separately, I led internal accessibility outreach at Sony to extend the case beyond my team.
What changed
The evaluation produced a clear recommendation. I made the final accessibility-risk call, and concept E did not require legal review. The voice features in messaging shipped.
Stack
Figma · iOS and Android accessibility settings
“She was a thoughtful design partner who welcomed cross-functional input while always advocating for a great user experience.”
Elisa Heiken
Worked with Julie on the PlayStation App team
What it taught me
Accessibility decisions get easier when the criteria are set before the options are reviewed. A clear weighting turned a debate about taste into a decision about people.