Agriculture Design System
Elevating the accessibility of a government design system through strategic information architecture and comprehensive documentation.
Overview
The challenge
The Agriculture Design System (AgDS) team operates within the Australian Government's Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). We ensure that digital products and services created by teams within DAFF can be used by everyone, regardless of ability or situation.
The problem
How do you make accessibility guidance actionable for designers and developers using a design system? They often aren't going into the design system to look for general accessibility information. They are often going in to find out how to correctly implement a component.
The challenge was determining how much information to provide and at what point in their workflow, while ensuring comprehensive coverage without overwhelming users.
44
Pages of documentation
12
Foundation topics
WCAG 2.1 AA
Compliance standard
My role
Senior design system designer
As a designer on a large-scale government design system, I:
- refined components
- created design patterns
- mentored fellow designers
- participated in design jams and reviews
- planned and conducted usability testing with diverse cohorts
- supported other teams during design system office hours and interaction design guild meetings.
Accessibility specialist
With a Professional Certificate in Web Accessibility (PCWA) and previous accessibility experience, I also:
- created a comprehensive body of design system accessibility documentation
- conducted automated and manual accessibility testing of components, patterns, and applications
- answered inclusive design and accessibility questions from designers and developers across the department
- led usability testing activities with people with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse people and First Nations people
- led Global Accessibility Awareness Day communications
- presented accessibility work to the DAFF community.
Key activities
- Information architecture
- Content strategy and structure
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Comprehensive accessibility documentation creation
- Component and pattern accessibility testing
Accessibility guidance examples from the Agriculture Design System
Process
1
Audit phase
Review existing accessibility information across the design system to identify gaps and opportunities.
2
Information architecture
Define the information architecture approach, including content placement rules and structure.
3
Content creation
Applied user-focused writing approach that adheres to the Australian Government Style Manual to create accessibility documentation using the framework established at the information architecture phase.
4
Reviews
Collaborate with another accessibility specialist to ensure techincal accuracy and conformance. Follow with stakeholder review working with design system leadership to align strategically with system goals.
5
Publication
Launch comprehensive accessibility documentation across the design system. This includes the foundational accessibility section, as well as contextual component level accessibility guidance.
Solution
Information architecture
The discoverability problem was solved by creating a clear structural hierarchy that distinguished between two distinct types of accessibility information:
Component-level guidance within accessibility tabs: Information about accessibility considerations specific to individual components, actionable during design or development. These cover aspects that, if implemented incorrectly, would render components inaccessible.
Foundational knowledge within a global accessibility section: Essential accessibility principles and broader topics that apply across multiple components or situations.
Component accessibility content strategy
For component accessibility tabs, I organised content around specific accessibility topics prioritising immediate implementation needs. Each topic follows a consistent three-part structure:
Requirements: Direct, actionable guidance on what users must do to implement accessibly.
Benefits: Explanation of why this consideration matters and how it impacts users with disabilities.
WCAG references: Direct links to relevant Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for compliance context.
Related guidance: Direct links to other guidelines, such as the ARIA Authoring Practices Guide.
Foundation accessibility content strategy
For the foundational section, I created comprehensive content using a four-part structure that builds understanding whilst maintaining consistency:
Topic introduction within AgDS context: Explains how AgDS specifically addresses each area, providing confidence and context about the system's approach.
Requirements, benefits, WCAG references, related guidance: Using the same four-part structure as component tabs creates consistency across all accessibility documentation, reducing cognitive load and helping users quickly locate information.
This approach ensures users encounter relevant guidance in context whilst having access to comprehensive foundational knowledge when needed.
Results
Scalable framework
Created a sustainable model for accessibility documentation that scales as new components are added to the system. This provides clear guidance for where new accessibility content should live and enables teams to find relevant information in context of their work.
Comprehensive coverage
Delivered 44 pages of accessibility guidance covering existing design system components, foundational accessibility topics, and conformance considerations.
Immediate adoption and engagement
Presented the accessibility documentation to the department and at design guild, generating significant engagement, especially from both designers and developers. Feedback highlighted that the information was "practical, concise and actionable," validating the content strategy approach. Teams began actively reading and referencing the documentation, with increased accessibility-related inquiries demonstrating real usage and organisational need.
Organisational impact
Established the design system as a reliable source of accessibility guidance, enabling teams across the organisation to create more inclusive digital experiences whilst maintaining consistency with established patterns and principles.
The Agriculture Design System accessibility documentation now serves as a comprehensive resource that empowers teams across DAFF to build inclusive digital experiences while maintaining design consistency and regulatory compliance.
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