Case Study: Accessibility-First Redesign Boosts Conversion for a Mental Health App

Design · 6 min read

The app had grown organically with dense typography and inconsistent color contrast, creating friction for users with visual or motor impairments. Accessibility audits and interviews with users relying on assistive technologies revealed critical navigation and readability issues.

The redesign introduced semantic HTML, consistent heading hierarchy, improved color contrast, and keyboard-first navigation patterns. Copy was rewritten for plain language, and interactive elements were standardized with larger touch targets and consistent focus states.

After launching the accessibility-first update, the app reported a 16% increase in trial-to-paid conversion among the cohort of users identified via accessibility settings, alongside a 9% overall uplift in trial completion. Support tickets related to navigation and readability dropped substantially.

This case reinforces that accessibility improvements are good UX for all users and can directly influence business metrics. The team recommends integrating accessibility checks into design review, including assistive tech users in research, and making accessibility a product KPI rather than a checklist.