This blog is a repository for my MA Module of the Interactive Multimedia course at Bath Spa University in 2007. This module consists of two parts, a written dissertation and a final project.
My final project is the re-design of a website for a Wellness & Spa hotel in the North of Germany (www.vitalis-greetsiel.de) with a special focus on usability and accessibility.
The dissertation has the working title “Making Accessibility Sexy”. Almost all arguments in favour of web accessibility do not seem to factor in sexiness as a selling proposition for accessible websites and it seems to me this is one reason why the topic has not yet found its place in mainstream webdesign or perhaps even more importantly, being a property sought after by people or companies commissioning websites.
Outside the World Wide Web there have been paradigm shifts in consumer behaviour & culture. The term LOHAS , an acronym for Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability, has been coined to describe a growing market segment which is made up of 35 Million US citiziens and 1/3 of the European population that actively seek to buy products or services considered to be sustainable, organic, eco-friendly and committed to social justice. It seems green is the new black and it has now become smart & sexy to be ethical.
My thesis is that the a.m. trend could be a real chance to push web accessibility further into the mainstream and make it more desirable.
This dissertation will explore the growth of the LOHAS market and compare relevant cultural implications to web accessibility topics. Ultimately I wish to explore what webdesigners and developers could learn from the LOHAS success story in order to make accessibility sexy.
Motivation for this study:
I believe accessibility, not only on the web, is a worthy cause which has not yet found its way into the conscience of mainstream society as something that is particularly “cool” or desirable.
Not having come across a dedicated debate looking at accessibility in the context of a growing acceptance and interest in mainstream society over LOHAS related issues so far and my study having to cover cultural theory related to the Masters course I feel this is an original topic that also has potential for further research outside the realms of this dissertation.
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