Flow-Centred Design: Rethinking Accessibility as an Experiential Quality in Human-Computer Interaction

Authors: Daniel Hajas

Published: Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, Cognitive Science and Education (AICSED) (2026)

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Abstract

Accessibility standards and assistive technologies continue to improve social inclusion by enabling disabled people to access places, information, and services. However, accessibility in Human-Computer Interaction remains primarily evaluated through task completion, compliance, and usability, often overlooking the experiential quality of interaction once access has been achieved. This position paper proposes flow as a complementary lens for reframing accessibility beyond access. Drawing on flow theory from psychology, I argue that accessible systems should not only enable participation but also support conditions for sustained engagement, guided exploration, and skill development. To operationalise this notion, I introduce Flow-Centred Design (FCD) as a conceptual framework linking accessibility evaluation with interaction design practice. FCD reframes accessibility as an experiential quality of interaction, grounded in design principles derived from conditions associated with flow experiences. The framework also introduces measures for evaluating the experiential quality and extent of accessibility across different interaction contexts. While the discussion focuses primarily on the digital inclusion of blind people, the proposed framework may be applicable to broader forms of disability across both digital and physical accessibility contexts. Through examples from accessible data visualisation research, I illustrate how interaction techniques supporting customisation, structured exploration, perceptual congruence, and multimodal collaboration begin to move accessibility beyond task completion toward richer, more engaging, and growth-oriented experiences.