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UMDDesign System

Events

Event Overlay Card

The Event Overlay Card promotes events in groups. It is a visual component that can have a standard or staggered layout.

Event cta

Variations

Accessibility

Keyboard Accessible

Users are able to use the keyboard to navigate through focusable content, using the ‘Tab’ key to navigate/focus and ‘Enter’ or ‘Spacebar’ to activate.WCAG 2.1.1: Keyboard This navigation is done in sequential and logical order. WCAG 2.4.3: Focus Order

Hover and Focus State

Actionable items each have distinctive styling on hover/focus to provide a visual cue to the user that the element is focused and there is an action that can be taken. WCAG 1.4.13: Content on hover or focus

Color Contrast

A contrast ratio of at least 4:5:1 between text and background color is ensured to enhance readability. The overlay card has an image tint overlaying the image to maintain this contrast ratio. WCAG 1.4.3: Contrast (minimum)

Responsive Design

The component scales in relation to the to the screen size to prevent truncating content and reflows properly when zoomed up to 200% without horizontal scrolling WCAG 1.4.10: Reflow

Consistency

Styles are applied to the card consistently including line height, font style, weight, spacing and color of text. The heights of cards are maintained consistently when cards are grouped together in a row. This provides balance and allows for greater readability. WCAG 1.4.12: Text Spacing 

Image

Provide effective alt text of the image that is concise and relevant. Avoid phrases like “image of” since screen readers often already announce the type of element. WCAG 1.1: Text Alternatives

  • Do not use an image to present text. True text should be used whenever possible, as it supports translation, is searchable, and is easier to maintain and customize. WCAG 1.4.5: Images of Text

Title

Use a clear and concise title that describes the card content WCAG 2.4.6: Headings and Labels

Body Text

Write body text in clear and simple language. WCAG: 3.1.5: Reading Level Use descriptive link text for inline-links. WCAG 2.4.4: Link Purpose (In Context) 

Link

Use effective text to describe what the link is and where it is taking the user. This should be clear, descriptive text that conveys the link content succinctly and the purpose and destination of the link. WCAG 2.4.9: Link Purpose (Link Only)

  • Example of effective text (preferred): Learn more about Innovate Maryland
  • Example of generic text (avoid): Learn more

Disclaimer: If the visible link text is not sufficiently descriptive, you can use an aria-label attribute to provide additional context for screen reader users. The aria-label should clearly describe the link's purpose and destination.

  • If the visible text is not necessary for screen readers (e.g., it's redundant or less descriptive), consider using aria-hidden="true" on the visible text element. This ensures that screen readers will prioritize the aria-label.

Example with aria-label and aria-hidden:

<a href="https://example.com/innovate-maryland" aria-label="Learn more about Innovate Maryland">  <span aria-hidden="true">Learn more</span> </a> 

This ensures that the link is accessible while maintaining concise visible text.

Content

Recommended character limits

Reduce the number of characters if the title and text block obscure a significant portion of the image. Character limits are enforced.

Title

40 characters (80 max)*

Text Block

120 characters (240 max)*

*Based on a 500 width card

Layout

Guidelines

  • Image aspect ratio will be enforced
  • If summary text is included, it should be limited to 3 lines
  • Best in groups of 2. May be stacked - maximum 8 in series or 4 rows

Animation

Hover state: Titles are underlined. See Overlay Card: Image scales up to about 105%. Image gradient fades from 100% to 60% (lightens).