Document Type

Paper

Publication Date

8-2025

Subjects

Book Publishing, Digital accessibility, color blind safety, WCAG standards, color contrast ratios, thumbnail scale, color vision deficiency, vision impairment, queer romance book covers, typography legibility, Goodreads, genre appeal, cover design

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.

Rights

© 2025 Madelynn Sare

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Description

Paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Writing: Book Publishing.

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/44025

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