Assessing The Accessibility Of Queer Romance Book Covers As Digital Thumbnails: An Analysis Of Color Contrast, Colorblind Safety, And Typography Legibility

Here's the abstract:

This research investigates the digital accessibility of queer romance book covers displayed as thumbnails online, focusing on the balance between creative freedom, genre appeal, and inclusive cover design. Using a dataset of 100 highest-rated queer romance titles from Goodreads (2020–2024), the study evaluates accessibility by examining color contrast ratios against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards, assessing colorblind safe design with Adobe Color, and measuring typography legibility through a custom-developed scale. Findings reveal that many covers fall short of WCAG color contrast requirements, yet a majority are colorblind safe, indicating that relatively minor design adjustments can significantly improve digital accessibility at thumbnail size without sacrificing visual identity. This paper argues that integrating digital accessibility into cover design—through WCAG-compliant color contrast, colorblind safe palettes, and clear typography—supports rather than limits genre appeal and creative expression. By prioritizing accessibility, publishers and designers can expand readership, improve discoverability in digital marketplaces, and unlock new market opportunities within queer romance.