Images
Images are visual content that complements or enhances text, including photographs, graphics, drawings, or diagrams.
DECD has an account with Freepik to access stock images. Please contact Sidra Mahmood to access the premium content.
Additionally, the following libraries provide more inclusive photo sets with free, creative commons licenses:
Guidance on patterns and styles, including how and when to use images can be found in the Canada.ca design system.
Guidance on selecting images for Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility can be found below:
Connection
- Have more than one person in an image
- Include realistic diversity: use authentic and genuine imagery, which is best conveyed using real people being themselves, that reflect everyday life, not actors hired to play a part
- Create a visible relationship between people that is positive
Openness
- Include people with disabilities
- Feature non-traditional dimensions of diversity like people with larger bodies
- Include unique subsets of diverse populations
- Have people with intersectionality in diversity
Balance
- Everyone is featured with the same prominence
- Ensure multiple dimensions of diversity are represented in an image
- Represent the spectrum of people that your potential customer base could be
1. Setting and Environment
When choosing images, the context is as important as the focus of the person(s) or object(s).
Consider the portrayal of a senior’s experience. The first photo implies a sedentary lifestyle and loss of mobility, not only by the focus on the game, but also the setting. The second photo is fully of action and life, which is reinforced by the context.
IMAGE 1 (Do Not Use) Playing games in doors. Dark room. Seated with wheelchair and walker clearly visible.
People photo created by DCStudio - www.freepik.com
IMAGE 2 (Good To Use) Exercising outdoors. Bright lighting. Green colour symbolizing life and vitality.
Health photo created by rawpixel.com - www.freepik.com
2. Products and services for everyone
At some point, it becomes impossible to include the full diversity of people that may use your product or service offering. To avoid excluding important individuals or groups, it may be better to select images that don’t include people at all.
Consider the suggestion of technology to enhance connection within a virtual environment. The first photo implies that it is mainly for those who have physical disabilities, while the photo of second implies active movement is required. Instead, better to focus on the technology itself, and show the games and environments from the inside view of what the individuals will experience.
IMAGE 1 (Do Not Use) Use of technology to overcome physical disabilities
People photo created by DCStudio - www.freepik.com
IMAGE 2 (Good To Use) Use of technology to explore new experiences
Business photo created by yanalya - www.freepik.com
3. Text size, placement, and contrast
If you feel it is necessary to include text on top of images, ensure compliance with WCAG guidelines by adjusting the size, placement, and contrast. Simple tools can be used to test for visibility (e.g. http://www.brandwood.com/a11y/)
4. Check your own biases
When selecting images for your site, remember to ask yourself:
- Who is missing or excluded?
- Can any photos be swapped out for a different type of person?
- Would I want to be portrayed this way? If this was a photo of me or someone I love, would I be okay with how they are represented?
- Are any stereotypes being perpetuated in the photo I am using? Am I depicting someone in the role our culture typically puts them in or making a more unexpected choice?
- Can everyone who might view the photo see someone like themselves represented in it?
Consider the portrayal of a senior’s friend group. The first photo does a good job of showing mixed races. The second photo additional shows that people can have friends of all ages and body types.
IMAGE 1 (Do Not Use) Same age, Same race
Coffee photo created by pressfoto - www.freepik.com
IMAGE 2 (Good To Use) Mixed race, age, and abilities
People photo created by rawpixel.com - www.freepik.com
We augmented the existing guidance with details on where to find images, and how to better select for diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.