ISO 19809:2017

Overview

ISO 19809:2017 - Packaging - Accessible design - Information and marking - defines requirements and recommendations for making consumer packaging information and marking accessible to people with a wide range of sensory and cognitive abilities. The standard guides how text, symbols, tactile features, colour and alternative formats should be designed and presented to improve legibility, comprehension and safe use. (Note: information and marking for medicinal products and medical devices including tamper verification are excluded.)

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 19809:2017 covers practical design considerations and evaluation methods, including:

• User- and context-focused design: consider diverse users (age, sensory, cognitive, cultural differences) and varying environments (lighting, tasks).
• Multiple presentation methods: provide at least two ways to convey critical information (visual + tactile, visual + audio, symbols + words, ICT tags/barcodes).
• Simplicity and clarity: use simple language, consistent expressions, prioritized information hierarchy and clear pictograms to reduce cognitive load.
• Highlighting important information: differentiate crucial markings by colour, texture, size or font to aid quick identification.
• Legibility factors: address luminance contrast, colour combinations, letter form and size, avoidance of glare, and logical placement of information.
• Tactile and audio alternatives: tactile markings, Braille (referencing relevant Braille guidance), and auditory signals where appropriate.
• Packaging-specific issues: consider how opening methods, use instructions, storage and disposal information affect accessibility.
• Evaluation and conformance: recommends both instrument-based (measurements) and user-based (testing with representative users) evaluations, and includes checklists and annexes (types of disabilities, tactile dimensions, designer’s checklist).

Applications and who should use it

ISO 19809:2017 is intended primarily for:

• Packaging designers and developers
• Accessibility specialists and usability evaluators
• Product managers, brand teams and manufacturers
• Quality assurance and regulatory staff
• Retailers and supply chain designers

Practical uses include designing consumer labels and markings that are more inclusive, improving product usability for older adults and people with disabilities, ensuring compliance with accessibility best practices, and guiding user testing and conformance assessment.

Related standards (select)

• ISO 3864-1 - Graphical symbols and safety colours
• ISO 17351 - Braille on packaging for medicinal products
• ISO 21067-1 - Packaging vocabulary
• ISO 24503 - Tactile dots and bars on consumer products
• ISO 8317 - Child-resistant packaging

Keywords: ISO 19809:2017, accessible design, packaging, information and marking, consumer packaging, tactile, Braille, luminance contrast, pictograms, inclusive design.