Accessible Signup Form for Linkedin

Objective

Analyze and enhance the existing registration flow for a SaaS product to make it as intuitive and accessible as possible, aligning with WCAG 2.2 AAA standards. The LinkedIn registration form was chosen as a baseline—a recognizable and widely adopted template. However, testing revealed accessibility and UX issues that could hinder users with diverse abilities from completing registration successfully.

Tools Used for Evaluation: Accessible Web Helper, WCAG Contrast Checker, and Axe DevTools.

🔎 Key Findings

🧭UX Issues

• The primary CTA button was labeled "Agree & Join", which misaligned with the first step of registration and caused confusion.
• Insufficient password guidance: No strength indicator or requirement list was provided, leaving users unclear about acceptable passwords.
• Missing support link: No option for users to seek help (e.g., "Need help signing up?").

💡Improvements

Clear and Natural Language

• Changed the button label from "Agree & Join" to "Create account" for clarity and logical flow.
• Error messages are now listed separately and structured for easier comprehension.

Support and Guidance

• Added a password strength indicator with visual and textual cues.
• Included a list of password requirements before form submission.
• Added a "Need help signing up?" link for users requiring assistance.

Control and Convenience

• Enabled autocomplete (autocomplete="email", autocomplete="new-password").
• Added clear field and show/hide password buttons.
• Ensured full keyboard navigation—no mouse dependency.

Accessible Error Display

• Errors now include icons and text, not just color cues.

🎨 UI Issues

• Text contrast failed WCAG AAA standards, especially for gray text on white backgrounds.
• Errors relied solely on color (red), which is inaccessible to colorblind users.
• Lack of visual hierarchy: The slogan and form competed for attention.
• No separation between branded content and the form itself.

💡Improvements

New Layout and Screen Division

• Split the screen into two sections:
  • Left: Branded area with a background and the headline "Create your professional profile".
  • Right: Form on a light background.
  • This creates contrast, visual balance, and improves focus on the action.

Contrast and Readability

• Adjusted text and background colors to meet WCAG AAA contrast (≥4.5:1).
• Errors are now highlighted with symbols/borders, not just color.

Hierarchy and Visual Rhythm

• Increased font sizes, line spacing, and margins.
• Established a logical order: headline → fields → button → alternative sign-in options.
• Larger buttons and fields for better mobile usability.

💻 Technical (Markup) Issues

• Incorrect ARIA attributes: Mismatched roles and element functions.
• Non-semantic markup: Missing aria-describedby, aria-live for dynamic messages.
• Poor keyboard navigation: No visible focus states, incorrect tab order.
• Partial validation: Errors lacked explanations.
• Missing autocomplete attributes (autocomplete="email", autocomplete="new-password").

💡 Recommendations

1. Add aria-live regions for screen readers to announce errors automatically.
2. Semantic HTML Structure:

html
 Copy
<form role="form" aria-labelledby="signup-heading">
  <label for="email">Your email</label>
  <input
    type="email"
    id="email"
    autocomplete="email"
    required
    aria-describedby="emailHint"
  />
  <p id="emailHint">We’ll never share your email with anyone else.</p>
</form>

1. Ensure proper ARIA roles, descriptions, and label → input associations.
2. Avoid redundant ARIA attributes; prefer native HTML solutions.
3. Keyboard Navigation:
   • Set a logical tabindex order.
   • Make all actions keyboard-accessible.
4. Validation and JS Functionality:
   • Implement client-side validation (HTML5 + JavaScript) with detailed hints.
   • Validate dynamically during input.

📈 Results

• Accessibility score improved from 80/100 to 100/100 (WCAG 2.2 AAA).
• All serious and critical errors resolved.
• Form is fully accessible for screen readers and keyboard navigation.
• Users receive clear feedback and instructions.
• Enhanced contrast, readability, and visual focus.