01.25 - 04.25
FINRA
Accessibility Guidelines
Operationalizing Inclusive design via framework
Introduction
Operationalizing Inclusive design
Overview
How might we enable product and engineering teams to make accessibility a standard through clear set of guideline, collaboration, and staying current with best practices?
Initial resistance to accessibility and the challenge of maintaining compliance with evolving regulations hinder the adoption of inclusive design practices.
My Role
In this project, I served as a UI/UX Designer and Researcher, responsible for conducting primary user research, facilitating usability workshops, and designing wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes.
Solution
Create a comprehensive accessibility guide to help educate product and engineering teams on accessibility practices. Consolidate a enterprise wide design system and component library throughout the organization with the help of figma.
Peak into the solution
Introduction
Operationalizing Inclusive design
Make accessibility a core design principle. Lead by living guidelines that can grow with FINRA. Make accessibility a core design principle.
Make accessibility a core design principle. Lead by living guidelines that can grow with FINRA. Make accessibility a core design principle.
1.
Identify key challenges when adopting WCAG
2.
Analyze existing accessibility guides or frameworks
3.
Review current frameworks in other government related entities
Secondary Research Insights
Lack of Awareness
Many people and businesses don’t fully understand the importance of accessibility and accessibility standards.
Inadequate Training & Resources
Teams lack access to comprehensive training, bootcamps, or materials on how to design and develop inclusively.
Stakeholder Buy-In
Difficulty convincing stakeholders, which leads to accessibility getting deprioritized.
Late Integration
Accessibility isn’t considered until a project is well underway, causing frustration.
Primary Research
Data Collection Methodologies
Basic secondary research was conducted to uncover market trends, consumer behaviors, and gaps left by existing competitors in the creative industry.
SME Interviews
1:1 Scheduled Interviews
Concept Evaluation Survey
Contextual Questions, Card Sorting Activity
Approach Taken
Primary Research
Key Insights
Concepts
Primary Research
Interviews and Survey
We want to understand how…..
How can we best support accessible design for engineers and developers at FINRA?
500+
Data points from Interviews and Survey responses.
SMEs
Engineering team
"Accessibility is a low priority gets put on the back burner often. Legally minimum vs kind. These legal minimums haven’t been updated since before the iPhone came out"
SMEs
Director
"We want to shift the thought of accessibility “further left” down the timeline, closer to research and discovery phases."
Trisia
COO @ FashionHub
"The APO also hosts weekly office hours where employees can bring their accessibility-related questions and get support from accessibility experts within the company."
Morgan
Social Media Manager
"At finra, its kind of iffy; since i have bg with accessibility, i keep track of color check and stuff but there is no process of rule at FINRA."
Morgan
Social Media Manager
It involves accessibility experts and document a comprehensive accessibility plan to ensure it is properly addressed throughout the project."
Morgan
Social Media Manager
"Different levels of “accessibility risk” is applied ot products (ex: wearables are high risk). Higher risk means more test."
Key Insight
Accessible design requires collaboration between developers, designers, and leadership.
Key Takeaway
All team members should rely on a unified source for accessible design practices.
Key Insight
Accessibility is best implemented when it’s considered early into projects.
Key Takeaway
Provide kickoff resources to help teams apply accessible practices as early as possible.
Key Insight
Designers and developers should be aware of resources to overcome knowledge gaps.
Key Takeaway
Include content for project managers to help keep their team aware and on top of accessibility requirements.
Key Insight
Having a variety of resources leaves no questions unanswered about accessible design.
Key Takeaway
Provide rich, concise documentation that contextualizes accessibility practices to guide beginners and experts.
Make accessibility a core design principle. Lead by living guidelines that can grow with FINRA.
Redefined HWM
Ideation
Proposed Solutions
Guidelines Website
Next Best Action (NBA) identifies and recommends the most effective action for a specific customer based on available options.
Guidelines PDF
Easily Shareable Documents
Integrated Tools
Accessibility Worktools
Design
Site Map
Through market research and competitor analysis, four core challenges emerged that current solutions in the crafting industry fail to adequately address.
Home
Foundation
Getting Started
Resources
Accessibility and Inclusion
Learn how accessibility and inclusion are core design principles at FINRA.
Importance and Impact
Discover why accessibility and inclusion matter, shaping better experiences for all.
Branding
Designing the Components
Design
Wireframe to final design
Make accessibility a core design principle. Lead by living guidelines that can grow with FINRA. Make accessibility a core design principle.
Make accessibility a core design principle. Lead by living guidelines that can grow with FINRA. Make accessibility a core design principle.
Design
Final Roll out
A digital twin is a high-fidelity replica of the physical object or system and can simulate, predict the behaviour of the real-world object or system.
A digital twin is a high-fidelity replica of the physical object or system and can simulate, predict the behaviour of the real-world object or system. A digital twin is a high-fidelity replica of the physical
A digital twin is a high-fidelity replica of the physical object or system and can simulate, predict the behaviour of the real-world object or system.
A digital twin is a high-fidelity replica of the physical object or system and can simulate, predict the behaviour of the real-world object or system. A digital twin is a high-fidelity replica of the physical
Love this project as much as I do?
Shivali Meenakshi Murali © 2026