A Guide to Creating Responsive and Accessible Websites

(Or: How to Stop Making Users Do Finger Gymnastics Just to Click a Menu)

There comes a moment in every person’s life when they realize a website is actively working against them. Maybe it’s the mobile menu that refuses to stay open. Maybe it’s text so tiny it should come with a magnifying glass. Or maybe it’s that one button — you know the one — placed so far off-screen it feels like a scavenger hunt challenge.

These are the moments that remind us why responsive and accessible design aren’t just best practices — they are survival strategies for anyone trying to function on the modern internet without cursing loudly in public.

But don’t worry. This guide is here to replace frustration with clarity — and maybe provide a laugh or two at the expense of terrible UI decisions we’ve all made (or inherited from “legacy systems,” the universal scapegoat).

Why Today’s Websites Must Be Both Responsive and Accessible

Let’s begin with a fun fact: people use the internet on everything now. Phones, tablets, laptops, refrigerators, watches, TVs, cars — at this point, if your toaster had Wi-Fi, someone would inevitably browse your website on it.

And guess what? Most of these people — regardless of their device, ability, age, or eyesight — expect your site to just work.

No zooming. No squinting. No guessing where buttons are hiding. No feeling like they need moon-landing-level coordination to tap a link.

Meanwhile, accessibility ensures your website is usable by everyone, including the 1 in 4 adults with disabilities. The truth is, accessibility isn’t about “special features” — it’s about building a site that works exactly how a website should work for every human being, not just the ones with perfect vision, motor skills, and screen sizes.

What Responsive + Accessible Really Mean (Without the Tech Jargon)

Responsive

Responsive design simply means your website gracefully adapts to whatever device it’s viewed on.

A responsive website:

• Doesn’t break when rotated
• Doesn’t require pinching and zooming
• Doesn’t make a mobile user scroll sideways like they’re reading a ransom note
• Displays images that don’t swallow the entire screen like an overenthusiastic pop-up ad

Accessible

Accessible design ensures that people of all abilities can use your site.

It includes:

• High-contrast text for readability
• Alt text so screen readers can describe images
• Keyboard navigation for users who can’t use a mouse
• Correct markup so assistive tech understands your content
• Logical structure so people don’t feel like they’re navigating a funhouse

If responsive design is about device flexibility, accessibility is about human inclusivity.

And if you nail both? Congratulations: you’ve built a website the entire world can use without swearing.

Why Responsive Design Matters More Than Ever

Here’s a sobering reality: Most of your users are probably arriving on your site via mobile.

On average:

• 60–70% of website traffic is mobile
• Google indexes sites mobile-first
• AI search engines evaluate mobile UX heavily
• People browse everywhere: in lines, on couches, in bed, in meetings (don’t tell their boss)

If your website breaks on mobile, it doesn’t matter how beautiful it is on desktop — your visitors will never know. They’ll leave before they even get the privilege.

Responsive design is no longer about “design elegance.” It’s about survival.

Core Principles of Responsive Web Design (The Stuff That Actually Matters)

1. Fluid Grids

Your layout shouldn’t behave like a stubborn piece of furniture that refuses to fit through the door. It should scale gracefully.

2. Flexible Images and Media

Oversized images shouldn’t explode across the screen like a poorly anchored balloon. Use images that scale with the container.

3. Breakpoints With Intention

Don’t just pick breakpoints because Bootstrap told you to. Design for actual content needs, not arbitrary device widths.

4. Mobile-First Thinking

Start with the smallest screen, then scale up. If it works on mobile, it will work anywhere — even the aforementioned smart toaster.

5. Touch-Friendly Interactions

Buttons should be big enough for real thumbs, not miniature doll hands.

6. Consistency Across Devices

Users shouldn’t feel like they visited a different website by accident when switching from tablet to desktop.

Accessibility: The Often-Neglected Twin of Good Web Design

A truly accessible website feels effortless — which means most users won’t even notice. That’s the goal.

Accessibility is about anticipating needs before users have to ask. Or worse — struggle.

Here are some accessibility must-haves:

1. Alt Text That Actually Describes Something

“Image123finalFINALuseTHISone.png” is not helpful to anyone.

2. Adequate Color Contrast

Light gray text on a white background? Congratulations, your site is now legible exclusively to hawks and professional snipers.

3. Keyboard Navigation

Every interactive element should be accessible via keyboard. If someone presses Tab and your site spirals into chaos, it’s not accessible.

4. Clear, Descriptive Labels

“Click here” is the web equivalent of a vague hand gesture.

5. Semantic HTML

Screen readers can’t interpret div soup. Use proper headings, lists, and landmarks.

6. Avoiding Seizure-Inducing Animations

If it flashes rapidly, remove it. No negotiation.

Practical Accessibility Techniques (WCAG Without the Headache)

WCAG guidelines can feel like reading IKEA instructions in the dark. So here’s the simple version:

• Provide captions + transcripts
• Use ARIA sparingly and correctly
• Avoid auto-playing media
• Provide error messages that explain how to fix the issue
• Support screen readers by structuring content logically
• Ensure forms are labeled properly

These aren’t “nice-to-haves.” They’re non-negotiable if you want to avoid frustrated users (and lawsuits, but let’s focus on the users).

Tools You Should Actually Be Using

Here are tools that won’t give you a migraine:

• Lighthouse – for accessibility, SEO, and performance scores
• WAVE – highlights accessibility issues visually
• Frictionless – developer-friendly audits
• NVDA / VoiceOver – test screen reader behavior
• Color Contrast Checkers – saves you from low-contrast regret
• Browser Dev Tools – preview responsive layouts effortlessly

If you only use Lighthouse and WAVE, you’re already ahead of half the web.

Common Website Mistakes (Please Stop Doing These)

Let’s address some frequent offenders:

Tiny tap targets

Links so small you need surgeon-level precision.

Hover-only menus

Newsflash: mobile has no hover. (Well… unless someone invents hover fingers.)

Low-contrast pastel text

Trendy? Maybe. Usable? Absolutely not.

Infinite scroll that traps users

Especially fun for keyboard-only users who would like to escape your website someday.

Carousels that slide faster than a runaway train

Enough said.

The Business Case: Why Accessibility + Responsiveness Makes You More Money

If empathy isn’t enough motivation, here’s the business argument:

• Accessible sites reach more users
• Responsive sites convert more visitors
• Both improve SEO and AEO
• Both reduce bounce rates
• Both demonstrate professionalism and credibility
• Both keep you compliant and out of legal trouble

Accessibility and responsiveness aren’t costs — they’re investments in brand trust and higher conversions.

The Bottom Line: Make Websites People Don’t Have to Fight With

A website should welcome users, not challenge them. It should work whether someone is browsing on a giant monitor, a phone with a cracked screen, or a tablet held together with optimism and duct tape. It should be readable, navigable, and usable by everyone — not just by people with perfect vision and the patience of a saint.

At Insivia, we help brands build responsive, accessible digital experiences that feel effortless — because websites shouldn’t require problem-solving skills to use.

Ready to make your website usable for everyone? Reach out to Insivia

Written by: Tony Zayas, Chief Revenue Officer

In my role as Chief Revenue Officer at Insivia, I help SaaS and technology companies break through growth ceilings by aligning their marketing, sales, and positioning around one central truth: buyers drive everything.

I lead our go-to-market strategy and revenue operations, working with founders and teams to sharpen their message, accelerate demand, and remove friction across the entire buyer journey.

With years of experience collaborating with fast-growth companies, I focus on turning deep buyer understanding into predictable, scalable revenue—because real growth happens when every motion reflects what the buyer actually needs, expects, and believes.