In 2020, the Lightspeed team volunteered to create an easily accessible, bilingual online shop for Summit School in Montreal , an organization that helps neurodivergent students reach their potential .when Lightspeed added Ecwid to their lineup, we teamed up and revamped the Summit School’s website, building a Summit Marketplace 与 Ecwid. The Summit Marketplace showcases the works of developmentally diverse artisans, and entrepreneurs from Summit School.
How Ecwid’s Accessible Online Store Template Became a Hit
The Summit Marketplace was built with Ecwid
As you may already know, Ecwid provides all users new zealand whatsapp an Instant Site , a free ecommerce website with a built-in online store . There are a variety of Instant Site templates customized for different niches.
Creating an accessible website for Summit School inspired us to create a new instant website template.
As just mentioned, Ecwid is already ADA compliant and checks all the boxes for WCAG. So, what problem did we decide to solve this time?
Here’s the thing about accessible websites: incorporating accessibility features can sometimes come at the expense of a site’s aesthetics. For example, balancing color, contrast, and font size can be challenging.
WCAG tests can sometimes show mixed results, as in the example below. A button with black text is perceived as passing the test, yet in reality, it is more challenging to read than the same button featuring white text.
How Ecwid’s Accessible Online Store Template Became a Hit
WCAG tests may occasionally yield inaccurate results
Simply following guidelines isn’t enough. Our aim was SNBD Host to develop a template that is not only accessible but also visually appealing, ensuring easy navigation without compromising the website’s aesthetics. We advocate for the idea that accessibility should also embody beauty.
, we believe that accessibility should not be sacrificed for aesthetics. Our template proves that it is possible to have both an accessible and visually appealing website.
Everything on the site, from the text size to how easy it is to get around, works for everyone.it’s one of our most popular online store templates among all templates for Instant Sites!
How Ecwid’s Accessible Online Store Template Became a Hit
One of our most popular Instant Site templates
the Ecwid ecommerce platform is accessible not just to customers but also to sellers. The Ecwid admin, where you manage your online store, is also designed with accessibility in mind. This makes it easier for business owners with disabilities to run their online stores efficiently.
Here’s what an Ecwid seller who happens to be visually impaired shared about running their Ecwid store:
“I would like to thank you very much for a great store that is convenient to manage for visually impaired sellers! And not only the website but also the app is available to you,
How Ecwid ensures instant site templates are accessible
Accessibility is more than just adhering to standards, it’s about real people engaging with online content without any barriers. How does Ecwid achieve this?
High-contrast templates: Visual clarity is a top priority, enabling visually impaired users to quickly discern text and other elements.
The layout was structured to highlight the products and storefront without unnecessary distractions or the need for additional scrolling.
Enlarged elements: Large images and fonts were employed not merely for aesthetic appeal but to accommodate users with visual impairments.
It’s important to note that all Instant Site templates are accessible. The template in question was designed with accessibility as the primary focus while also making it sleek and beautiful. The latter might be difficult to do when ensuring a site’s accessibility, as it can be easy to overlook design elements in favor of functionality with our templates, we were able to achieve both.