The Three Pillars of Web Design: Usability, Accessibility, & Aesthetics
(two days: hands-on)

Participants will explore the fundamental issues of accessible and usable Web design, with an emphasis on accessible design according to U.S. Section 508 standards. They will examine real-world Web sites and learn to validate them for accessibility and ease-of-use. Participants will learn the value and purpose of aesthetic design for sites, and how an attractive design can complement usability and accessibility to make the most effective online presence.

Objectives:
This is a two-day, intensive course on the creation of Web sites that maximize and combine the potential of accessibility, usability and aesthetics. Students will first learn the principles of these three "pillars" individually, then how to how to make them work together. They will learn to assess and validate site accessibility and find the proper balance between simplicity of use and enrichment of design. At the end of the course, students will have the tools necessary to make effective sites according to the U.S. Section 508 standards.

Topics:
Introduction and overview of course
Why bother with accessibility? Usability? Aesthetic design?
How far to go with accessibility? Simplicity vs. Enrichment.
Separating content and form – and then meshing them.
Accessibility 101; Usability 101; Aesthetic design 101
Putting the Three Pillars together
Validating Web sites
Hands-on techniques for Section 508 accessibility

Outcomes (skills learned):

	Make the case for integration of accessibility, usability and aesthetic design
	Be able to decide how far to go with each principle
	Separate content from design
	Construct a Web site using the Section 508 guidelines
	Construct sites using text alternatives, accessible video and audio, frames, image maps, etc.
	Use appropriate color and contrast
	Validate and assess sites on accessibility
	Use Cascading Style Sheets for supple design
	Put it all together for effective designs

Recommended: Basic understanding of Macromedia Dreamweaver