Designing Accessible Online Exhibitions for Everyone
I'm creating an online art space designed to be fully accessible to people with all types of disabilities. This short survey will help me understand what works, what doesn’t, and how to make it better for you. Your voice matters - thank you for taking part!
📌 Section 1: Consent
Your responses will help shape a more accessible digital art space. The survey is voluntary, confidential, and you can skip any question or stop at any time. There are no right or wrong answers, we just want to learn from your experience.
Do you agree to take part in this user research?
Yes, I agree
No, I do not agree
🙋 Section 2: About You
These questions help us make sure we’re hearing from a diverse group of people. You can skip any that you’re not comfortable answering
What’s your name or preferred name?
First Name
Last Name
What is your age group?
Under 18
18 - 24
25 - 34
35 - 49
50 - 64
65+
How would you describe your access needs or condition(s)? (Tick all that apply)
Low vision
Blindness
Colour blindness
Hemianopia (partial vision loss)
Deaf or hard of hearing
Speech or communication difficulties
Mobility or physical disability
Neurodivergent (e.g. ADHD, autism)
Cognitive or memory-related condition (e.g. dyslexia, brain fog)
Mental health condition (e.g. anxiety, depression)
Chronic illness or fatigue
Temporary impairment (e.g. injury, recovery)
Situational limitation (e.g. shared devices, low connectivity)
Prefer not to say
Other (please describe)
How confident are you using websites and online platforms?
Very confident
Somewhat confident
Not very confident
5. What is your primary language or preferred way to communicate? (Tick all that apply)
English
British Sign Language (BSL)
Spoken audio
Easy Read
Other (please specity)
Would you like to share more about your condition or access needs?
You can use this space to tell us anything else you'd like us to know to helps us understand your needs better. (Completely optional - skip if you prefer)
Where do you live? (City/Region)
Street Address
Street Address Line 2
City
State / Province
Postal / Zip Code
Gender Identity:
Woman
Man
Non-binary
Genderqueer
Genderfluid
Agender
Bigender
Prefer not to say
Other
What pronouns do you use? (Optional)
Please enter your pronouns.
Ethnic Identity / Ethnic Background
Black African
Black Caribbean
Black British
Irish
British (White British, Scottish, Welsh, etc.)
European
South Asian (e.g. Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan)
East Asian (e.g. Chinese, Korean, Japanese)
Southeast Asian (e.g. Filipino, Vietnamese, Thai, Malaysian)
Central Asian (e.g. Afghan, Kazakh, Uzbek)
Iranian / Persian
Turkish
Kurdish
Arab
Latin American / Hispanic
Mixed or multiple ethnic backgrounds
Prefer to self-describe (please specify)
🖥️ Section 3: Online Access & Tools
Help us learn about the devices, tools, or settings you use to access websites, this helps us design features that suit your needs. Feel free to skip any questions.
What devices or tools do you usually use to access the internet? (Tick all that apply)
Desktop or laptop computer
Smartphone or tablet
Voice assistant (e.g., Siri, Alexa)
Screen reader
Screen magnifier
Braille display
Other (please specify)
8. Which features help you use websites more comfortably? (Tick all that apply)
Large or adjustable text
Audio descriptions
Keyboard navigation
High colour contrast
Simple, clutter-free layout
Captions or transcripts for videos
Text-to-speech tools
Skip to content buttons
Voice input
Toggle animations/motion
Other (please specify)
9. What settings do you often change when visiting a new website? (Tick all that apply)
Zoom level
Font size
Theme or contrast
Turn off motion/animation
Use browser plug-ins
I don’t usually change anything
Other (please specify)
🚧 Section 4: Challenges & Frustrations
Help us find out what problems or challenges you’ve faced when using online galleries or art websites so we can avoid them! Feel free to skip any questions.
10. Have you used any online art or photography galleries before?
Yes
No
11. If yes, which platforms have you tried?
(e.g., Google Arts & Culture, Smithsonian, BlindArt)
12. What challenges have you faced with these platforms? (Tick all that apply)
Missing or poor alt text
Can’t zoom into artwork
Difficult to navigate
Cluttered or overwhelming design
Audio or video content lacks captions or transcripts
Forms or upload areas are inaccessible
No clear keyboard focus
Background audio I couldn’t turn off
Complex layout
Other (please specify)
Have you ever given up on an online gallery because it wasn’t accessible?
Please tell us what happened.
Can you describe a time when you felt especially included or excluded by a digital experience?
Please tell us what made you feel included or excluded.
✨ Section 5: Ideal Experience
Things that would make an online art space feel accessible, enjoyable, and empowering for you. Feel free to skip any questions.
What would your ideal online art experience include? (Tick all that apply)
Keyboard-only navigation
Audio-guided art tours
Written and spoken artwork descriptions
Zoom and text-size controls
High-contrast and theme toggles
Option to upload and describe your own art
Voice search or voice commands
Accessible mobile layout
Customisable interface
Other ideas:
How would you prefer to explore exhibitions? (Tick all that apply)
Quiet, solo experience
Narrated or guided experience
Share and comment with others
Switch between these modes
Other (please specify)
Which actions should the platform make easiest? (Tick all that apply)
Discovering new art
Navigating an exhibition
Reading or listening to artwork descriptions
Sharing feedback or comments
Uploading and describing your own art
Connecting with other visitors or artists
Customising how I view the exhibition
Other (please specify)
What would make online exhibitions more enjoyable or inclusive for you?
Please tell us anything that would help
🎨 Section 6: Deeper Connection with Art
Your personal connection to art and how often you engage with it online. This helps us design experiences that feel meaningful and motivating. Feel free to skip any questions.
What does art or photography mean to you personally?
How often do you explore art or photography online?
Never
Occasionally (once a month)
Weekly
Daily
Other ( please specify)
What stops you from engaging with online art more often? (Tick all that apply)
It’s not accessible enough
I don’t enjoy the format or layout
I can’t find content that suits me
It’s too overwhelming or confusing
It feels impersonal or lonely
I need more time or support
Other ( please specify)
🧠 Section 7: User Typing & Self-Assessment
How you navigate online art spaces, your confidence levels, and whether you also create art, so we can support both viewers and creators.
23. How would you rate your independence when using art websites? (Scale 1–5)
Please Select
1 - I always need help
2 - I often need help
3 - Sometimes I need help
4 - I mostly explore on my own
5 - I explore comfortably on my own
On scale of 1 - 5
When you visit an online art space, what do you usually do first?
Browse by theme or artist
Start an audio guide or tour
View the latest exhibition
Adjust accessibility settings
Other (please specify)
Are you also an artist or photographer?
Yes
No
Other
If yes, what would make it easy for you to upload and describe your artwork online?
🗣️ Section 8: Final Thoughts & Participation
What do you wish more designers or organisations knew about accessible online spaces?
Please tell us what you think
What makes you feel comfortable and in control when using a website?
Please tell us what you think
Would you be willing to help test a prototype in future?
Yes
No
If yes, please leave your email address if you haven't already (optional):
example@example.com
Thank you so much for taking part in this survey!
Your input is vital in helping us design more accessible digital experiences. If you have any questions or would like to share more, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’d love to hear from you!
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