Design is often seen as a field of creative expression where the focus is on aesthetics and style. However, for Megumi Hiramoto, an accomplished visual designer based in the U.S., design is both creative and technical. 

The innovative Hiramoto has made it her mission to bring accessibility to the forefront of design. She uses her knowledge and skills in web and PDF accessibility to create accessible design projects from the get-go. Her unique approach to document creation has made her a sought-after designer in the field of EdTech, where accessibility and inclusivity are critical.

Growing up in Japan, Hiramoto discovered design at an early age. She saw firsthand how practical designs could be simultaneously beautiful and efficient. 

Hiramoto’s passion for design was further stimulated during her internship at ELLE magazine and her job with the editorial team at Harper's BAZAAR in Japan. However, it wasn't until she started working in EdTech that Hiramoto realized the potential impact of accessible design.

Creating accessible documents is like programming, requiring technical skills that many designers are unfamiliar with. When it comes to accessible PDFs, designers must balance creativity with the need to create a design that assistive technologies can properly process. 

Doing so requires knowledge of design software like InDesign and Acrobat and an understanding of accessibility guidelines. Hiramoto approaches document creation like an engineer, carefully considering how the design elements will eventually affect accessibility.

For Hiramoto, design should always have a purpose. Her focus on creating meaningful and practical designs has made her a valuable member of the design team at her company. The product that Hiramoto and her team are currently building is a leading online curriculum that is visually modern and fresh, offering meaningful content with creative visual solutions.

As an advocate of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in design, Hiramoto is passionate about representing people who have historically been excluded. However, this can be challenging when selling products to school districts with conservative academic standards and politics. 

Regardless, Hiramoto believes it is important to make products accessible and equitable to as many people as possible. She does this by showing case studies and demos that compare accessible products to non-accessible ones.

Hiramoto's career highlights include leading her design team and a couple of products in accessibility with fellow accessibility experts. Her biggest challenge has been finding a balance between their desired design and achieving accessibility. 

To overcome this, Hiramoto goes back to the core purpose of the design and understands the priorities. Then, by filtering what to achieve first on the list, Hiramoto simplifies the concept and achieves the necessary accessibility.

The forward-looking creative encourages designers to create work empathetically while making their designs inclusive. In a few years, Hiramoto sees herself playing a key role in new product development with accessibility in mind, expanding her design team to other areas, and being a consultant for design accessibility.

Hiramoto's inventive approach to accessible document creation is inspiring. Her focus on balancing creativity with technical know-how is a reminder that design is both an art and a science. 

As a designer, Megumi Hiramoto is creating products and brands that achieve accessibility. But, perhaps most importantly, Hiramoto's steadfast advocacy for DEI within her field is a reminder that design can truly bring about meaningful change.