Interview with Joel Strohmeier on the importance of accessibility and its future
Joel Strohmeier is an accessibility specialist at Nomensa, where he helps organisations embed inclusive design practices across complex digital ecosystems. We sat down with Joel to talk about how he found his way into accessibility, why collaboration is key, and the power of small changes to drive meaningful impact.
Tell us about how you got into accessibility. What drew you to this work?
It wasn’t a lightning bolt moment—it was more of a gradual development. I started in corporate digital communications after university, initially aiming for a career in advertising. But I quickly realised that the types of roles I was being offered didn’t align with how I wanted to work.
I ended up joining a company that focused on digital communications for FTSE 100 firms, and that’s where I was introduced to concepts like information architecture and accessibility. Speaking with developers and consultants sparked a curiosity in me. I began teaching myself about accessible design during evenings and weekends, and it never really stopped. I found it deeply interesting and, over time, it became central to how I approach digital work.
What’s been a highlight project for you?
The Test and Trace programme stands out. I worked on accessibility and inclusion as part of a multi-agency team—hundreds of us across NHS Digital, UKHSA, Deloitte, and others. It was incredibly high-pressure, but also an extraordinary challenge.
We had to establish accessibility governance from the ground up. Often, the standards already existed, but people didn’t know about them or how to apply them. A big part of my role was essentially going on a roadshow, introducing teams to existing guidance and showing them how to test properly. It was about helping people understand that accessibility isn’t just visual—it’s structural.
Are there any common misconceptions about accessibility that you often have to address?
A few come up regularly. One is the assumption that if you’re not hearing from users with disabilities, they’re not using your service. That’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. If your site isn’t accessible, people bounce—and then you assume they were never there.
Another is the idea that developers will “just handle it.” Developers are often brilliant, but they’re working under immense pressure. If accessibility isn’t built into the brief or the design system, it gets missed. You can’t expect accessibility by default. It takes intention.
Where do you see the future of accessibility heading?
There are some really exciting things happening—tools like Be My Eyes using AI to help visually impaired users identify objects through image recognition, for instance. It’s a thoughtful use of tech that solves a genuine need.
I’m also seeing more accessibility being baked into the platforms designers use—tools like Miro and Figma are making strides here. And plugins like eBay’s ‘Include’ are guiding designers through accessibility checks step-by-step. That kind of support makes a real difference.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in accessible design?
Start by asking what it means to be a good designer. Think about the impact of your decisions—on people, on systems, on the planet. Accessibility flows naturally from that kind of thinking.
There are also great resources out there: the W3C’s Introduction to Accessibility course is solid, and websites like A11yPhant make HTML basics easier to grasp. But really, it’s about curiosity. Keep asking questions, and don’t be afraid to challenge assumptions.
Watch the importance of accessibility and its future full video.
A big thank you to Joel Strohmeier for contributing to our series of interviews with industry experts.