Graphic Design for Social Media

Since you're viewing this on social media, this post is for you. It's for everyone who posts on social media. Many folks — including diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leaders and those in the disability and accessibility space — don't realize how easy it is to make social media content accessible. Here's a reference guide to help you remember. Pick one thing. Start there. Make it a habit. Once you do, move on to the next thing. I suggest starting with hashtags. Super easy. I'm always learning and evolving my accessibility efforts. I used to be a little more freewheeling about using animated GIFs and emojis. Animated GIFs can be a problem for me. Now, I only post them on social media platforms that don't automatically play them. (Facebook and Twitter.) Another thing I used to do was add an opening line to arouse curiosity. Then, I'd enter a few blank lines after that. Thankfully, I quickly learned this is a problem for some disabilities where a lot of scrolling is a challenge. Here are the dos and don'ts in the image. (If you need an image with larger text or different color background, please reach out. A black or white background doesn't work for some folks. So, light purple it is.) - Skip the fancy font generator. Don't use fancy font generators or unreadable fancy fonts. - Be thoughtful about using emojis. Don't overuse emojis. - Be descriptive yet concise in describing images (alt text). Don't fill alt text with useless keywords. SEO. Blah. Blah. Blah. - Describe images in alt text. Don't use automatic alt text. - Limited use of animated GIFs. Don't use them in signatures, avatars, or comments. The motion is sickening for some folks. Add alt text, too. - Use one blank line between paragraphs. Don't use a lot of blank lines or omit blank lines between paragraphs. - Use sentence case. Don't use all caps because it has no visual shape. Please stop yelling. - Capitalize the first letter of each word in hashtags and user names. #CamelCaseRocks. The other hashtag is #YouCannotReadLowercaseHashtags in all lowercase - Check the color contrast on your images and text/background with a free tool. Don't assume an image or text/background pairing is accessible for everyone. - Caption your videos accurately. Don't let autocraptions do all the work. Edit them. - Provide transcripts for podcasts and videos with short paragraphs and speaker identification. Don't publish transcripts with big blocks of text. I hope this image is an improvement based on feedback. I changed the font. I change the light grey to light purple. P.S. What will you do differently after reading this? Comment below. Want training on how to make your content accessible? ✉️ me 🔔 Tap the profile bell now 👉 Find more #MerylMots content #SocialMedia #DigitalMarketing #Accessibility Image: Dos and don'ts for accessible social media with the left side listing what to do and the right side showing what not to do to make social media content accessible.

Accessibility should be seen as necessary, mandatory, and crucial. Here are 8 tips for Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Before I dive into these simple tips, let’s quickly learn about GAAD. The main purpose of GAAD is to get everyone talking, thinking, and learning about digital access and inclusion, and the 1 Billion+ people with disabilities. GAAD is celebrated annually on the third Thursday of May, so this year it's on May 15th (today!). A disabled person should be able to experience the internet, apps, social media, and all digital spaces like anyone else, but unfortunately, many websites and digital spaces are still inaccessible. So here are 8 easy tips for digital accessibility: 1. Color Contrast Accessible content generally has high contrast between the background and text colors, which makes it easier to read. For example, using a black background with white text will be accessible for most people. There are exceptions to this guidance as those with colorblindness and conditions like Irlen Syndrome may have other needs. 2. Closed Captions When hosting virtual meetings, always provide closed captions. Also, provide captions for content that you produce online. Please provide fully accurate captions instead of relying on automatically-generated ones. 3. Image Descriptions (IDs) Write IDs to help blind and low vision people learn what an image looks like. This is especially important when an image conveys information, such as an event flyer. You can add IDs within a post or in the comments. 4. Audio Description (AD) Audio description is helpful for those with vision disabilities. AD describes visual content in enough detail so that people don't miss out on information. Include AD in videos and verbally describe images in presentations. 5. Transcripts Transcripts are wonderful for business because they allow you to improve your SEO rankings since your audio or video content has been turned into words. Transcripts also help make content accessible for the D/deaf and hard of hearing, those with other disabilities, and more. 6. Label Buttons Unlabeled buttons on apps and websites create access issues. This is very important for screen reader users. Each user needs to be able to easily determine what a button does and also find the buttons. 7. Pascal Case Hashtags Capitalize each word within a hashtag to ensure a screen reader can understand it. Example: #DisabilityAwareness 8. Include Diverse Images Many times, disabled people don't see themselves represented in the world. This is especially true for disabled people of color. Use diverse images in media representation, advertisements, images on social media, and more. Did you know about Global Accessibility Awareness Day? Will you use these tips? cc: GAAD (Global Accessibility Awareness Day) Foundation PS: For more accessibility tips, check out my free accessibility ebook (linked at the top of my profile)! #Accessibility #GAAD

Stumped for fresh social media content ideas? Here are 3 surprising goldmines you probably haven’t tapped yet: 1. Your Team’s Slack Channel For many teams, this is the go-to spot to share ideas and feedback transparently. Whether it's a note on strategy or a subject matter expert sharing their opinion on a recent news article, scrolling through these channels can prompt some of the most engaging social content. Just ask permission first! 2. Internal Decks & Presentations Yep, those old strategy decks aren’t just collecting dust—they’re loaded with great content! Find a killer stat, a thought-provoking graphic, or a big idea and break it down for social. Repurpose as carousels on LinkedIn or quick-fire graphics on Instagram. Pro tip: let your audience peek behind the curtain of your brand’s brain. 3. Reddit Threads in Your Niche Reddit is where people are really talking. Jump into relevant threads to catch what’s trending, what people are debating, or what they need help with. Pull out a few hot takes or questions, then add your own twist. It’s like crowdsourcing content ideas but with zero effort. These hidden gems bring out the authentic, people-first storytelling your audience craves. Where do you find your best content ideas? 🔥

Accessibility should be the floor—not the ceiling. Because if your product only works for neurotypical users, you’re likely excluding 1 in 5 people—if not more. Neurodivergent users face common friction points: → Cluttered UIs and chaotic flows → Overstimulating motion or color → Abstract microcopy → Long, unstructured content with no alternatives These aren’t edge cases. They’re signals that your design may be leaving users behind. So what helps? → Chunk content to reduce cognitive load → Stick to consistent, literal layouts → Give users control over fonts, contrast, animation → Build calm, quiet defaults → Offer alternatives—audio, video, spacing, keyboard access These aren’t “extra” work—they’re simply good design that can help anyone. What are your go-to accessibility strategies? #accessibility #neurodiversity #uxdesign ⸻ 👋 Hi, I’m Dane—I love sharing design insights. ❤️ Found this helpful? 'Like’ it to support me. 🔄 Share to help others (& save for later). ➕ Follow me for more like this, posted daily.

Design can only be termed good if it reaches all. Creating beautiful and innovative designs is a key goal for graphic designers. However, even the most visually appealing designs can be inaccessible to some users if they don’t consider various accessibility needs. Low contrast between text and gaudy backgrounds can make it difficult for people with visual impairments or colour blindness to read the content. Decorative fonts can be hard to read for everyone, especially for people with dyslexia or other reading disabilities. So, what do we do to make designs more disability inclusive? 🔍 Understand Diverse Needs: Begin with empathy. Get to know the unique needs and challenges faced by people with disabilities. This understanding will guide your design process to be more inclusive. 🖼️ Accessible Visuals: Use high-contrast colors and clear fonts to make text and images easily readable. 🗣️ Alt Text Matters: Provide descriptive alt text for all images to ensure that screen readers can convey the content to visually impaired users, making your designs more inclusive. 🎨 Responsive Design: Design with flexibility by creating layouts that adapt seamlessly across different devices and screen sizes, including those used by people with disabilities. ♿ Universal Symbols: Use universally recognized symbols and icons to communicate important information. 💬 Inclusive Language: Choose words that respect and acknowledge people with disabilities. Avoid ableist language and ensure your message is positive and empowering. 👩💻 User Testing with Disabled Communities:  Involve people with disabilities in your testing process. Their feedback is invaluable in creating designs that truly meet their needs. Embracing disability inclusion in our designs is the next step to making the world a better place. Let me know of more design inclusive strategies in the comments below! #inclusive #design #accessibility #uxdesign #a11y #disabilityinclusion #universaldesign #webaccessibility #empathyindesign #userexperience #designthinking

Nearly everyday, I unfollow folks here, because of content that is either inaccessible for me, or content that physically causes me pain.  Let me explain each one in a bit more detail. I am colorblind.  If graphics or images are shared without an image description, I may very well not be able to see what others see.  Colorblind folks don't use screen readers... so even if you are entering alt text in your graphics online, I can't see them. I am neurodivergent.  I don't often get sarcasm unless it is directly a quote from a movie or show that I regularly watch.  While I am quite possibly the BIGGEST gigglebox that you'll ever meet and I thrive on laughing, I'm often left feeling confused by posts that are sarcastic, or covertly making fun of something or someone. I am physically disabled with multiple rare diseases that cause pain and damage to my joints and physical movement in general.  These posts that are SUPER long due to unneccessary spacing are brutal on my hands.  The more mouse clicks and scrolling I need to do in a day means the less time I can hold off on my pain medication... and that means the less I can do the things I would like to do before I have to listen to my body and stop.  And yes - my pain is bad enough that I am in pain management for relief. What can you do to be more accessible?  Let's use my examples, as accessibility is such a vast field: 1. Always provide both alt text and image descriptions.  An image description goes into more detail than alt text.  It explains the image and its relation to a post.  It can include emotions, actions, or intentions you are trying to convey.  If it's a graphical representation of data, it should be a readable format of the data presented. 2. If you're using humor or sarcasm in your content, include some context for folks that may not understand what you mean.  Whether you add a quick note at the end of the post to explain your humor or sarcasm, or you explain within the post, it's so helpful... for not only neurodivergent folks but also folks who don't speak English as their first language or are from a different country and/or culture than you. 3. There is absolutely no need to write one sentence per line.  I know it may look cool, or some marketing bro said to do it.  But think about how much additional effort that is for folks to consume your content.  You may think I'm exaggerating, but I did an experiment before.  It took me like 9 scrolls to read content that, when I reformatted it similar to this post, it only took like 1 scroll.  That shit adds up in a day.  Find a good balance between avoiding HUGE walls of text, but also not 5 words per line. I hate to unfollow cool folks, but I have to protect my mental and physical health.  It's like a slap to the face if I am repeatedly being told [visually] that I don't belong, that spaces aren't welcoming me. Much love, friends. 💜 #Accessibility #DisabilityInclusion #ChronicPain #Neurodivergent #Belonging  

Did you know design reviews can include accessibility? They should, but they often don't. A lot of accessibility issues get baked in early, during the design phase. And by the time a developer is building from that design, it's already too late to catch some of the easy stuff. That's why you should run a quick accessibility design review before handoff. Here's a checklist of some things to look for - contrast, headings, alt text guidance, and more. Let me know if there's anything that should be added! And if you prefer your content as text, read on.... 7 Checks Design Review Accessibility Checks for Every Design Review Catch common issues before handoff Check 1 – Check Color Contrast Can everyone read this? Make sure text stands out from the background. That trendy white on light grey? It has to go. Check 2 – Check Heading Structure Size isn’t everything Use annotations, styles, or naming conventions so it’s clear which level each heading should be, H1–H6. Check 3 – Check use of color Not everyone sees color in the same way Don’t rely on color alone – use underlines, icons, text labels, or patterns to show links, states, and status. Check 4 – Check form fields for labels Placeholders are not labels Every form field should have an always-visible and persistent label. Check 5 – Check for visible focus states Don’t make devs do design Designs should clearly show focus states for buttons, links, inputs, and other interactive components. Check 6 – Check for alt text guidance Don’t leave devs guessing about alt If an image or icon needs alt text, describe what it should be. Build that thinking into the design process. Check 7 – Check for animation options Not everyone loves autoplay Avoid excessive animation and motion-triggered effects. If motion adds value, make it optional or easy to pause. Great accessibility starts in design Save this checklist for your next project Juggling accessibility across multiple websites? We built AAArdvark just for you. Give it a try for free – no credit card required. a20y.com

Creating ads is the easy part, finding the inspiration is the hard part. Here's how we find creative inspiration for all our clients: 1/ Facebook Ads Library Perfect place to find inspiration. Avoid looking at brands in the same space. Look at what someone in another vertical is working on, what do they do differently? What's some verbiage or concepts you can take from that industry and apply it here? 2/ TikTok Top Ads Review top ads on TikTok based on search volume + Industry. Dive into the analytics that are provided on a lot of the ads, find out what competitors are doing. Review drop off rates on view time and CTRs for these ads. 3/ Top Ads Spotlight TikTok upload top ads on a certain time window for each industry along with their metrics. Super underrated place to get inspiration and content ideas from. A lot of the hook concepts and camera footage are easily replicable for brands you would work on. 4/ TikTok Top Products Broken down by industries and products. Break it down by popularity. Take all the interests from the creative insights and search those interests on your mobile app to get creative insights on what does well organically. 5/ Customer Research Use platforms like Amazon, Reddit & Facebook groups. All are great to find direct customer feedback from your competitors customers and see what the pain points for them are and how you can solve it in your creative directly. 6/ Foreplay.co & other swipe files A lot of these platforms have mood boards or expert boards where you can see a collection of the type of ads others are collecting. Good way to view upcoming brands out there that you wouldn't have found through a google search or above methods. If you want to watch the full video breakdown then check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gyHnqqWz

My mood board process might seem juvenile But here's the thing—it works. I’ve stuck to apple notes like it's 2010, because why complicate what feels right? No need for over-the-top mood boards when simplicity nails it. Here are some principles I will always stand behind: Scrolling through socials, hitting up Behance, and screenshotting everything that catches my eye. From packaging designs to UI elements, it's a free-for-all. Then, it's all about playing puzzle master with Instagram's Layout app, stitching 10, 20 shots into one cohesive mood. Colors, fonts, vibes—all laid out to guide the brand identity journey. Bookmark, screenshot, and let the creativity flow. 1. Start Simple: Yes, I'm that person still loyal to Apple Notes over anything fancier. Why? Because it just works for me. 2. The Hunt Begins: Whether it's rebranding a newly acquired company or kickstarting a fresh project, my journey begins with a deep dive into social media and key websites like Behance. Instagram's a gold mine too, thanks to the creatives I follow. 3. Screenshot Everything: My mantra? If it catches your eye, it's worth a screenshot. From intriguing packaging designs and sleek UI elements to compelling email layouts and even billboards that make me do a double-take on my drive home. 4. The Creative Mashup: Enter Instagram's Layout app, my go-to for stitching up to 20 of these snapshots into a single, cohesive vision. This isn't just about throwing pictures together; it's about mixing colors, typography, and vibes to craft a mood that resonates. 5. The North Star: This final image becomes my guiding light, the essence of the brand identity I'm about to unfold. Whether it's setting the tone for a UI design or the entire brand aesthetic, everything stems from this curated collage. 6. Keep It Fluid: Constantly bookmarking, screenshotting, and being open to inspiration everywhere ensures that creativity never hits a roadblock. It's about building a library of visuals that speak to you and piecing them together to reveal your brand's story. No need for extravagant mood boards when you've got a method that's both effective and straightforward. This approach is proof that keeping it simple doesn't mean sacrificing depth or creativity. For example: This is a mood board I gave to a photographer a while ago so they could get the general look and feel of the types of imagery I was trying to capture.

When it comes to consumer-facing touchpoints, we're mobile-first all day. We design mobile-first, we build mobile-first 📱 Why? Data! Over the last 12-months, 82% of the traffic to our Ecom menus was on mobile devices. But there's a disconnect when we talk to retailers: most are focused on the web breakpoint. Why? Because they often look at their menus on a desktop, analyzing it from an operational perspective rather than a customer’s journey. And I get it, because I am also tip tapping away on a desktop for work. But the reality is most customers aren't sitting at a desk when they place an order. They’re scrolling on their phones on the move, in-store, or from their couch. And it's not enough to just make a responsive site, it’s about optimizing for how real customers shop. Solid tap zones, fast load times, frictionless checkout. That’s what converts. So let's all obsess over the mobile breakpoint together cuz the data is leaning heavy in that direction 🙃 !