Overview

Clay is a leading UI/UX design agency renowned for crafting modern, sleek, and highly interactive digital experiences. While their work consistently delivers high aesthetic and functional value, they recognized the need to integrate accessibility best practices more deeply into their processes.

Zenyth has collaborated with Clay across multiple projects, initially engaging in auditing and rechecking their work. Over time, as Clay embraced the importance of shifting left in accessibility, our partnership evolved to include proactive design annotations, ensuring accessibility considerations were embedded early in the design phase. This shift has resulted in more seamless development cycles, improved accessibility outcomes, and a stronger commitment to inclusive digital experiences.

Challenges

1. Retrofitting Accessibility – In the early stages of our collaboration, Clay’s designs often required post-development accessibility audits and subsequent remediation. This reactive approach led to extended development timelines and additional rework.
2. Knowledge Gaps in Accessibility – While Clay’s design team excelled in aesthetics and user experience, they initially had limited exposure to WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) principles and best practices.
3. Handoff Efficiency – Developers frequently encountered barriers due to missing or unclear accessibility requirements within design handoffs, leading to inconsistent implementations and avoidable errors.

Zenyth’s Approach

Phase 1: Accessibility Audits & Rechecks

Our initial engagement with Clay focused on evaluating the accessibility of their completed projects. Through a combination of automated scans and manual reviews using assistive technologies, we identified areas for improvement, including:

• Insufficient color contrast and readability issues
• Missing alternative text for images and interactive elements
• Keyboard navigation and focus management gaps
• Improper use of ARIA roles and attributes

Each audit was accompanied by a comprehensive report outlining identified issues, their impact on users, and prioritized remediation recommendations.

Phase 2: Transition to Design Annotations

Recognizing the benefits of proactive accessibility integration, Clay sought our expertise in shifting left—embedding accessibility early in the design process. We began providing design annotations directly on wireframes and UI mockups, ensuring accessibility was seamlessly integrated before development.

Key components of our design annotation services included:

• Text and Hierarchy Guidance – Ensuring appropriate heading structures and logical content flow.
• Interactive Component Annotations – Documenting behavior expectations for buttons, links, form fields, and other interactive elements, including focus states and ARIA roles.
• Contrast & Color Recommendations – Providing contrast ratios for text and background elements to meet WCAG 2.2 level AA standards.
• Motion & Animation Considerations – Identifying potential motion triggers and ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.3 guidelines to prevent adverse effects on users with vestibular disorders.
• Error Messaging & Form Accessibility – Defining clear validation messages and error state designs to support assistive technology users.

Phase 3: Improved Collaboration & Process Optimization

Through ongoing consultation, Zenyth helped Clay refine their internal workflows to naturally integrate accessibility into every phase of design and development. Key process improvements included:

• Standardizing Accessibility in Client Contracts – Clay updated their service agreements to include accessibility conformance expectations from the outset.
• Accessibility-Focused Kickoff Meetings – Accessibility considerations became a standard discussion point in client project kickoffs, reinforcing early alignment.
• Education & Training – Zenyth provided tailored training sessions for Clay’s designers and developers, deepening their understanding of accessible design principles and WCAG compliance.
• Streamlined Developer Handoffs – With annotated designs, developers received clearer, more actionable accessibility requirements, reducing implementation errors and last-minute fixes.

Results & Impact

1. Reduced Remediation Efforts – By shifting accessibility left, Clay significantly minimized the need for post-development fixes, reducing rework costs and project delays.
2. Improved Compliance – Designs consistently met WCAG 2.2 level AA standards, enhancing digital inclusivity for all users.
3. Stronger Client Relationships – Clay’s proactive accessibility approach positioned them as a forward-thinking partner to their clients, adding value to their services and differentiating them from competitors.
4. Enhanced Team Expertise – Through training and hands-on collaboration, Clay’s designers and developers gained confidence in implementing accessible design principles as part of their standard workflows.

Conclusion

The collaboration between Zenyth and Clay demonstrates the transformative power of early accessibility integration. By evolving from post-development audits to proactive design annotations, Clay not only improved compliance but also enhanced the overall efficiency of their projects. Their commitment to accessibility now serves as a core strength, ensuring their digital products are functional, inclusive, and future-proof.

At Zenyth, we continue to support Clay and other design agencies in embedding accessibility at every stage of digital product development. If your organization is looking to enhance its accessibility strategy, our design annotation and consulting services can help ensure compliance while streamlining development workflows.

Let’s build a more accessible digital world together.