As digital designers, we are constantly striving to stay ahead of an ever-changing industry. However, there still exist pockets where we have not gained as much ground as we should have due to a lack of discourse or willful ignorance. Design Elephants is a quarterly event hosted by the Postlight Design team, where we identify some of these problematic areas from which we, as a discipline, still shy away and seek to facilitate discussion around them.

Our first event is centered around the topic of accessibility and the complicated relationship digital designers have with creating systems that are truly inclusive for everyone. As personal technology grows more and more, it is imperative that the designers who are helping to build out these experiences are helping to define them for all.

At this event, we’ll discuss:

• Fundamentals of inclusive design and how to incorporate accessibility into the creation of digital products.
• The practical implications of designing for screen readers.
• Common objections to accessibility practices that you might hear and how to best address them.

To help lead the discussion, Postlight is excited to host both Regine Gilbert, the author of Inclusive Design for a Digital World: Designing with Accessibility in Mind, and Walei Sabry, Digital Accessibility Coordinator for the City of New York. Additionally, Postlight’s own Senior Product Designer Nora Vanni, who recently wrote the article “Making the Case for Accessibility,” will be sharing tips on how to best advocate for accessibility within the design process.

Seating is limited and RSVP is required. Attendees will receive a special event gift.

Live closed-captioning will be provided.

Please be advised that while our 10th floor space is accessible via an elevator, we do not have ADA compliant restrooms available for use.

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Regine Gilbert is a User Experience Designer based in NYC. She is a professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, where she teaches user experience design and assistive technology to students in the Integrated Digital Media program. Regine is author of 'Inclusive Design in the Digital Age: Designing with Accessibility in Mind' - a book for those new to digital accessibility. She is also a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies awarded through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. Regine has a strong belief in making the world a more accessible place. She is passionate about advocating for a good user experience that starts and ends with the user.

Born in Egypt and raised in New York, Walei Sabry has had significant transitions in his life. First from one country to another and then through varying degrees of vision. As the Digital Accessibility Coordinator, Walei makes sure that the City of New York's digital products can be accessed by all. Whether it’s by conducting website audits, providing staff awareness trainings or representing the disability community in his everyday life, wherever he goes, Walei is constantly changing perceptions one situation at a time.

Nora Vanni is a Senior Product Designer at Postlight, spending her days collaborating with product and engineering to solve problems for clients. Her most recent projects have been working on a messaging platform for the MTA, as well as YAP, the “best chat app you never knew you wanted.” No matter her project, Nora’s priority is to debunk the notion that accessible design is incongruous with creative freedom and believes that inclusive design results in better experiences for everyone.