I sat in the eye doctor’s office thinking, “Why do you hate me?” Nausea roiled through me as I lowered my head to hand to block the digital signage from view.
Imagine walking into a doctor’s office feeling hopeful, only to feel sick because of the environment. For many, this is a physical reaction to sensory overload. Digital screens are everywhere, but for those with disabilities or sensory sensitivities, these screens can be exclusionary, overwhelming, and even cause stress or illness. This post highlights the impact of inaccessible digital signage, the importance of accessibility in design, and how to create signage that works for everyone.
A Visit to the Optometrist: A Case Study in Overload
I needed a new optometrist. Like any sane person, I asked friends and Google. While scanning reviews, I selected one with great ratings right down the street.
When I arrived, the space looked modern and clean. White floors, white shelves, and warm wood accents were everywhere. Behind the sales counter was a large video wall. It looked impressive, with its colorful, rapidly changing graphics.
Then I was sent to the doctor’s reception area. There was another video wall. While filling out paperwork, I started to feel unwell. I told the receptionist I could not tolerate blinking lights during the eye exam. She said it would be fine.
It was not.
It wasn’t the test. It was the digital signage. The screens were moving too fast. The images flickered and flashed. I felt nauseous and shaky. By the time I got my glasses fitted, it was worse. I could not escape the screens. I had to step outside several times just to finish the appointment.
The irony was painful. I went to an eye doctor to care for my vision, but the visual environment made me sick.
Why Accessible Digital Signage Matters
I have a condition that makes me sensitive to digital signage. But I’m not alone.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 in 6 people worldwide live with a disability. That is over 1.3 billion people. Many of these disabilities are invisible. You cannot tell just by looking at someone if they have a sensory processing disorder, epilepsy, or chronic migraines.
If your digital signage is inaccessible, causes physical pain or distress, then it fails at its primary job. Signage exists to inform and welcome people. If a customer, employee, or patient cannot physically stay in a space because of your screens, your communication strategy is broken.
Accessible digital signage is not just about following rules or avoiding lawsuits. It is about safety and comfort. It ensures that everyone can exist in your space without fear of illness or exclusion.
Accessibility Includes Neurodiversity
When we talk about accessibility, we often think of wheelchair ramps or braille. But accessibility also includes neurodiversity.
Neurodiversity refers to the variation in the human brain regarding sociability, learning, attention, mood, and other mental functions. This includes people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and sensory processing differences. These conditions affect how people process light, motion, sound, and information.
The Impact of Sensory Overload
For a neurodivergent person, the world can sometimes feel too loud or too bright, resulting in sensory overload.
Studies by the National Autistic Society show that sensory overload can cause severe stress, anxiety, and the need to withdraw from a situation.
Digital signage can trigger this overload through:
- Fast motion: Text or images that fly across the screen too quickly
- Flashing images: frequent cuts or strobing effects
- Bright colors: High-saturation colors that vibrate visually
- Cluttered layouts: Too much information packed into one space
While estimates vary, roughly 10%–20% of the global population is considered neurodivergent. That is a significant portion of your audience. What feels exciting and dynamic to one person may feel physically painful to another.
What Does Accessible Design Look Like?
The good news is that accessible design is usually better design for everyone. When you make information easier to see, read, and understand, you help everyone.
Here are the core elements of accessible signage:
1. High Color Contrast
Text needs to stand out from the background. If the contrast is low, people with low vision cannot read it. Research from the Nielsen Norman Group shows that high-contrast text improves readability for all users, especially in bright spaces like sunlit lobbies.
2. Clear Captions
Captions are essential for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. However, they help everyone else too. Verizon Media found that videos with captions are understood better by all viewers, regardless of hearing ability. Think about a noisy airport or a quiet waiting room where sound is turned off. Captions ensure the message still gets through.
3. Simple Layouts and Fonts
Fancy, cursive fonts are hard to read. Simple, sans-serif fonts are accessible to more people. Keeping layouts clean, with plenty of empty space, reduces cognitive load. It takes less mental effort to understand the message.
Accessible and neuro-inclusive digital signage includes:
- High color contrast ratios
- Easy-to-read, standard fonts
- Simple, uncluttered layouts
- Limited motion and smooth transitions
- Clear captions or text alternatives
- Screen placement that works for people of all heights (including wheelchair users)
Good design reduces effort. Less effort means better understanding.
How Can You Ensure Your Signage Is Accessible?
Creating accessible content does not require expensive tools. It requires a shift in mindset. Here are simple, effective steps you can take today.
Follow Standard Guidelines
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA are the global standard for digital accessibility. While written for the web, many of these rules apply perfectly to digital signage. They offer specific guidance on contrast ratios, text size, and timing.
Design for Quick Viewing
People do not stand in front of digital signs and read them like a book. They glance at them for a few seconds. Design your content to be understood instantly. If it takes ten seconds to read a sliding headline, it’s too long.
Reduce Motion and Flashing
This is critical for safety. Flashing lights can trigger migraines, nausea, and in severe cases, seizures. The Epilepsy Foundation warns that photosensitivity is a serious trigger. Avoid rapid flashing or strobing effects completely. Keep animations smooth and slow.
Test Screens in Real Spaces
Designing on a computer monitor is different from viewing a giant video wall in a lobby. Lighting, distance, and angle change everything.
- Stand where your customers stand
- Check for glare from windows
- Make sure the screen isn’t too bright for the room
Make Accessibility a Rule, Not a Fix
Don’t treat accessibility as a final check before you publish. Make it a core rule of your brand standards. Consistent standards work better than one-time reviews. Create a template that is already accessible so your team starts from a good place every time.
Accessibility: Better for Everyone
Digital signage should help people feel informed, welcome, and safe.
If your screens exclude or overwhelm people or drive them out the door, the technology is not doing its job. Designing for accessibility and neurodiversity is not “extra work.” It is simply better design.
Consider auditing your content for accessibility. If you find areas for improvement, don’t be discouraged. Use it as an opportunity to educate yourself and your team, and make changes that will benefit everyone.
Remember that inclusivity is a continuous process, and there is always room for improvement. Keep educating yourself on best practices and seeking feedback from diverse perspectives to ensure that your digital signage is truly accessible to all individuals. By prioritizing inclusivity in design and developing standards, you not only create a better experience for those with disabilities or neurodiverse conditions but also enhance the overall effectiveness of your messaging for all users.
When you strip away the clutter, the flashing lights, and the confusion, you are left with a clear message. And that benefits everyone.
