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01.25 - 04.25
01.25 - 04.25
FINRA
Accessibility Guidelines
FINRA
Accessibility Guidelines
Operationalizing Inclusive design via framework
Operationalizing Inclusive design via framework
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
Operationalizing Inclusive design
Operationalizing Inclusive design
Operationalizing Inclusive design
Overview
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
Solution
Created a comprehensive accessibility guide to help educate product and engineering teams on accessibility practices. Consolidated an enterprise wide design system and component library throughout the organization with the help of figma.
Created a comprehensive accessibility guide to help educate product and engineering teams on accessibility practices. Consolidated an enterprise wide design system and component library throughout the organization with the help of figma.
Created a comprehensive accessibility guide to help educate product and engineering teams on accessibility practices. Consolidated an enterprise wide design system and component library throughout the organization with the help of figma.
Peak into the solution
Peak into the solution
1.
Identify key challenges for FINRA internally when adopting WCAG
1.
Identify key challenges for FINRA internally when adopting WCAG
1.
Identify key challenges for FINRA internally when adopting WCAG
2.
Analyze existing accessibility guides or frameworks
2.
Analyze existing accessibility guides or frameworks
2.
Analyze existing accessibility guides or frameworks
3.
Different user needs and workflows into one cohesive experience.
3.
Different user needs and workflows into one cohesive experience.
3.
Different user needs and workflows into one cohesive experience.
Secondary Research Insights
Secondary Research Insights
Secondary Research Insights
Lack of Awareness
Lack of Awareness
Many people and businesses don’t fully understand the importance of accessibility and accessibility standards.
Many people and businesses don’t fully understand the importance of accessibility and accessibility standards.
Many people and businesses don’t fully understand the importance of accessibility and accessibility standards.
Inadequate Training & Resources
Inadequate Training & Resources
Teams lack access to comprehensive training, bootcamps, or materials on how to design and develop inclusively.
Teams lack access to comprehensive training, bootcamps, or materials on how to design and develop inclusively.
Teams lack access to comprehensive training, bootcamps, or materials on how to design and develop inclusively.
Stakeholder Buy-In
Stakeholder Buy-In
Difficulty convincing stakeholders, which leads to accessibility getting deprioritized.
Difficulty convincing stakeholders, which leads to accessibility getting deprioritized.
Difficulty convincing stakeholders, which leads to accessibility getting deprioritized.
Late Integration
Late Integration
Accessibility isn’t considered until a project is well underway, causing frustration.
Accessibility isn’t considered until a project is well underway, causing frustration.
Accessibility isn’t considered until a project is well underway, causing frustration.
SME Interviews
1:1 Scheduled Interviews
SME Interviews
1:1 Scheduled Interviews
Concept Evaluation Survey
Contextual Questions, Card Sorting Activity
Concept Evaluation Survey
Contextual Questions, Card Sorting Activity
Approach Taken
Approach Taken
Primary Research
Primary Research
Key Insights
Key Insights
Concepts
Concepts
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
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."
SMEs
Director
"We want to shift the thought of accessibility “further left” down the timeline, closer to research and discovery phases."
SMEs
FINRA Product Team
"The APO also hosts weekly office hours where employees can bring their accessibility-related questions and get support from accessibility experts within the company."
SMEs
FINRA Product Team
"The APO also hosts weekly office hours where employees can bring their accessibility-related questions and get support from accessibility experts within the company."
SMEs
FINRA UX Writing
"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."
SMEs
FINRA UX Writing
"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."
SMEs
Director
"It involves accessibility experts and document a comprehensive accessibility plan to ensure it is properly addressed throughout the project."
SMEs
Director
"It involves accessibility experts and document a comprehensive accessibility plan to ensure it is properly addressed throughout the project."
SME's
Engineering team
"Different levels of “accessibility risk” is applied ot products (ex: wearables are high risk). Higher risk means more test."
SME's
Engineering team
"Different levels of “accessibility risk” is applied ot products (ex: wearables are high risk). Higher risk means more test."
We want to understand how…..
How can we best support accessible design for engineers, designers, and leadership at FINRA?
We want to understand how…..
How can we best support accessible design for engineers, designers, and leadership at FINRA?
We want to understand how…..
How can we best support accessible design for engineers, designers, and leadership at FINRA?
500+
500+
Data points from Interviews and Survey responses.
Data points from Interviews and Survey responses.
Key Insight
Key Insight
Accessible design requires collaboration between developers, designers, and leadership.
Accessible design requires collaboration between developers, designers, and leadership.
Key Takeaway
Key Takeaway
All team members need a reliable unified source for accessible design practices.
All team members need a reliable unified source for accessible design practices.
Key Insight
Key Insight
Accessibility is best implemented when it’s considered early into projects.
Accessibility is best implemented when it’s considered early into projects.
Key Takeaway
Key Takeaway
Provide kickoff resources to help teams apply accessible practices as early as possible.
Provide kickoff resources to help teams apply accessible practices as early as possible.
Key Insight
Key Insight
Having a variety of resources leaves no questions unanswered about accessible design.
Having a variety of resources leaves no questions unanswered about accessible design.
Key Takeaway
Key Takeaway
Provide concise documentation that contextualizes accessibility practices to guide beginners and experts.
Provide 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.
Make accessibility a core design principle. Lead by living guidelines that can grow with FINRA.
Make accessibility a core design principle. Lead by living guidelines that can grow with FINRA.
Redefined HWM
Redefined HWM
Ideation
Ideation
Ideation
Solution proposed
Solution proposed
Solution proposed
Building for continuity
Rather than allowing accessibility knowledge to leave with the project, I created documentation that could be carried forward by future teams. This gave Design, Content, and Engineering a shared reference point for maintaining accessibility beyond the project’s completion.
Last minute requirement
The handoff document was added later in the project when the need for a sustainable way to communicate accessibility recommendations became clear. This last-minute requirement turned into a structured resource that captured key learnings and actionable best practices.
Guidelines Website
A single unified source of truth that can answer questions for design teams, content writing, engineers!
Integrated Tools and System
Enterprise wide integrated design system and component library.
Handoff User Guide
Easily shareable educational handoff document
Building for continuity
Rather than allowing accessibility knowledge to leave with the project, I created documentation that could be carried forward by future teams. This gave Design, Content, and Engineering a shared reference point for maintaining accessibility beyond the project’s completion.
Last minute requirement
The handoff document was added later in the project when the need for a sustainable way to communicate accessibility recommendations became clear. This last-minute requirement turned into a structured resource that captured key learnings and actionable best practices.
Building for continuity
Rather than allowing accessibility knowledge to leave with the project, I created documentation that could be carried forward by future teams. This gave Design, Content, and Engineering a shared reference point for maintaining accessibility beyond the project’s completion.
Last minute requirement
The handoff document was added later in the project when the need for a sustainable way to communicate accessibility recommendations became clear. This last-minute requirement turned into a structured resource that captured key learnings and actionable best practices.
Research
Research
Card Sorting
Card Sorting
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.
Feature Prioritization
Determining which elements and functionalities are most essential based on user needs.
Feature Prioritization
Determining which elements and functionalities are most essential based on user needs.
Feature Prioritization
Determining which elements and functionalities are most essential based on user needs.
Organization Hierarchy
Establishing a clear structure for how content is grouped and categorized.
Organization Hierarchy
Establishing a clear structure for how content is grouped and categorized.
Organization Hierarchy
Establishing a clear structure for how content is grouped and categorized.
Guidelines Navigation
Ensuring users can easily find and access the guidelines within that structure.
Guidelines Navigation
Ensuring users can easily find and access the guidelines within that structure.
Guidelines Navigation
Ensuring users can easily find and access the guidelines within that structure.
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.
Home
Home
Management
Learn the foundations & help drive accessible and inclusive design.
Product Team
Explore the guidelines for crafting accessible and inclusive designs.
Developer Team
Learn to implement, apply guidelines for product development.
Foundation
Foundation
About the Guidelines
Discover how these guidelines empower inclusive and accessible product design at FINRA.
Using the Guidelines
Learn how to apply these guidelines to create inclusive and accessible digital experiences at FINRA.
Getting Started
Getting Started
Management
Learn the foundations & help drive accessible and inclusive design.
Product Team
Explore the guidelines for crafting accessible and inclusive designs.
Developer Team
Learn to implement, apply guidelines for product development.
Resources
Click through the results of Card Sorting
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
Branding
Designing the Components
Designing the Components
Consolidated an enterprise-wide design system and component library in Figma, unifying fragmented UI patterns into a scalable library of reusable components and establishing greater consistency across the organization’s digital experiences.
Consolidated an enterprise-wide design system and component library in Figma, unifying fragmented UI patterns into a scalable library of reusable components and establishing greater consistency across the organization’s digital experiences.
Design
Design
Design
Wireframe to final design
Wireframe to final design
Wireframe to final design
Refined the experience through iteration, usability testing and feedbacks. Through small tweaks, the usability was improved tremendously.
Refined the experience through iteration, usability testing and feedbacks. Through small tweaks, the usability was improved tremendously.
Refined the experience through iteration, usability testing and feedbacks. Through small tweaks, the usability was improved tremendously.
Updated Navigation
Permanent sidebar for consistency
Updated Navigation
Permanent sidebar for consistency
Updated Navigation
Permanent sidebar for consistency
Condensed Cards
Reduces the need for scrolling
Condensed Cards
Reduces the need for scrolling
Condensed Cards
Reduces the need for scrolling
Design
Design
Design
Final Walkthrough
Final Walkthrough
Final Walkthrough
The final solution demonstrates how thoughtful UX can make complex financial systems design feel more accessible, usable, and human, enabling cross team collaboration.
The final solution demonstrates how thoughtful UX can make complex financial systems design feel more accessible, usable, and human, enabling cross team collaboration.
The final solution demonstrates how thoughtful UX can make complex financial systems design feel more accessible, usable, and human, enabling cross team collaboration.
50+
50+
Pages of content writing and accessibility guidelines for a financial services company.
Pages of content writing and accessibility guidelines for a financial services company.
Pages of content writing and accessibility guidelines for a financial services company.
1
1
Sectioned Content
Sectioned Content
Brief and concise information
Brief and concise information
2
2
Supplementary
Content
Supplementary Content
Supplementary
Content
E.g., best practices, examples, & visual illustrations.
E.g., best practices, examples, & visual illustrations.
3
3
Designing graphics
Designing graphics
To better explain the content with the aid of graphic and visual.
To better explain the content with the aid of graphic and visual.
Wrapping Up
Wrapping Up
Wrapping Up
Hand-Off Guide
Hand-Off Guide
Hand-Off Guide
FINRA accessibility handoff guide documenting key accessibility guidelines, best practices, and implementation considerations for future design and development teams.
Including a user guide providing step-by-step instructions for navigating and using the website, supporting adoption and enabling users to independently complete key tasks.
FINRA accessibility handoff guide documenting key accessibility guidelines, best practices, and implementation considerations for future design and development teams.
Including a user guide providing step-by-step instructions for navigating and using the website, supporting adoption and enabling users to independently complete key tasks.
FINRA accessibility handoff guide documenting key accessibility guidelines, best practices, and implementation considerations for future design and development teams.
Including a user guide providing step-by-step instructions for navigating and using the website, supporting adoption and enabling users to independently complete key tasks.
Connect CMS Image fields (Image 1–10)
Faster, smoother handoffs
FINRA stakeholders noted the system reduced handoff friction, improving efficiency and consistency across Engineering, Content, and Product Design teams.
Faster, smoother handoffs
FINRA stakeholders noted the system reduced handoff friction, improving efficiency and consistency across Engineering, Content, and Product Design teams.
Reduced accessibility rework
Embedded accessibility guidance earlier in the design process, helping teams identify potential issues before development and minimizing downstream accessibility fixes and iterations.
Reduced accessibility rework
Embedded accessibility guidance earlier in the design process, helping teams identify potential issues before development and minimizing downstream accessibility fixes and iterations.
Wrapping Up
Wrapping Up
Wrapping Up
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
A Starting Point for Accessibility
A Starting Point for Accessibility
A Starting Point for Accessibility
This project marked the beginning of my deeper interest in accessibility and inclusive design. It sparked a curiosity that eventually grew into my thesis, Beyond Vision, where I explored new ways of making print media more accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired.
This project marked the beginning of my deeper interest in accessibility and inclusive design. It sparked a curiosity that eventually grew into my thesis, Beyond Vision, where I explored new ways of making print media more accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired.
This project marked the beginning of my deeper interest in accessibility and inclusive design. It sparked a curiosity that eventually grew into my thesis, Beyond Vision, where I explored new ways of making print media more accessible for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Integrated Workflows
Integrated Workflows
Integrated Workflows
The project also strengthened my experience with design systems, component design, and creating consistency across complex workflows. A key challenge was bringing different user needs and workflows into one cohesive experience balancing flexibility, scalability, and clarity within a unified system.
The project also strengthened my experience with design systems, component design, and creating consistency across complex workflows. A key challenge was bringing different user needs and workflows into one cohesive experience balancing flexibility, scalability, and clarity within a unified system.
The project also strengthened my experience with design systems, component design, and creating consistency across complex workflows. A key challenge was bringing different user needs and workflows into one cohesive experience balancing flexibility, scalability, and clarity within a unified system.
Love this project as much as I do?
Love this project as much as I do?
Shivali Meenakshi Murali © 2026
Shivali MM © 2025
Shivali Meenakshi Murali © 2026