We often think of accessibility in sophisticated terms: The colourful curb ramps, screen readers, or the Braille label on a sign. While these are critical, inclusive design can be embedded in the digital products we use every day. An example of this is Spotify Podcast. While it’s used by millions, its subtle, intentional design choices make it far more accessible than most of us realize.
Feature 1: The “Read Along” Transcripts
Podcasts were often seen as an audio-only medium, a format that created an unnecessary barrier for people who are deaf or have a hearing disability. The listener’s inability to hear the content wasn’t the problem; the problem was the single-mode design of the product itself.
Spotify directly addresses this with its “Read Along” feature, a time-synced transcription of the podcast’s audio. The name itself is a masterclass in accessible language — it’s action-oriented and clear, a welcome departure from the technical term “closed captions.” The micro-interaction that highlights each word in real-time as it’s spoken provides a visual anchor, allowing a person to easily pinpoint exactly where they are in the episode.
This feature is a textbook example of the Social Model of disability in action. It shifts the focus from a “problem” with a person’s hearing to the environmental barrier created by audio-only content. By providing a transcript, Spotify removes the societal barrier that prevents people with a hearing disability from fully engaging with a podcast. It helps them to consume media just like anyone else. This feature also perfectly embodies the principles of universal design, as it’s design also serves a broader audience, including a listener in a noisy coffee shop, a student who wants to quickly find a quote, or someone who prefers to read along while they listen.
Feature 2: Playback Speed and Video/Audio Toggle
Spotify Podcast’s ability to adjust playback speed can be understood as a Functional Solutions Model of disability. This model identifies how an impairment affects a person’s ability to complete a task and thus seeks to remove that barrier with innovative solutions.
For a listener with a cognitive or learning disability, rapidly processing spoken information can be difficult to comprehend. The playback speed control from 0.5 to 2.0 provides a practical solution that allows them to consume content at their own pace, reducing a functional limitation, and helps them to engage more deeply with the media.
Many modern podcasts, including “Anything Goes,” have a video version that adds a visual layer to the content. However, for a person who experiences motion sickness or sensory overwhelm, watching the camera pan and zoom can be physically uncomfortable. Spotify’s one-click button to switch to a static audio-only mode is a simple yet functional solution that removes this barrier entirely. It allows a person to access the content comfortably, without sacrificing utility.
Spotify Podcast is a powerful example of a mainstream product that integrates accessibility not as an afterthought but as a core part of its design philosophy. These features demonstrate that a product’s success is not just about serving the majority, but about intentionally designing for the full spectrum of human abilities. As product designers, we have the power to create products that not only serve a purpose, but also thoughtfully taking down barriers.