For my research project in MCT, I worked on an individual project about accessible form design. The goal of the project was to investigate how a subsidy form could be made more accessible and user-friendly for a wide range of users. The form was inspired by the application process of VAPH, which made the project very relevant in a real-world and socially meaningful context. I also followed the design and visual identity of the original website, which showed that I can work within an existing visual identity and still build a clear, functional, and accessible interface.

My main focus during this project was the development of a multi-step form in Next.js with React Aria components. I researched how accessibility could be improved through better semantic structure, clear validation, keyboard support, and a more inclusive user experience. Besides building the interface itself, I also worked with both client-side and server-side validation, using React Aria and Zod, so I could compare different validation approaches and test their impact on accessibility.

An important part of the project was testing and evaluating the accessibility of the application. For this, I used Pa11y CI to detect accessibility issues and improve the form step by step. I also made the project flexible enough to run with different validation modes, which helped me better understand how validation behavior influences the overall user experience.

The result was a working proof of concept that demonstrates how modern frontend technologies can be used to create more accessible digital forms. It was a valuable project because it allowed me to combine research, frontend development, and accessibility into one practical application with a clear societal relevance.

Links:

• GitHub: Research-project-mct-howest
• Live Demo: View website