Charles Peloye

Product designer · Accessibility auditor

Software designed for everyone.

For 13 years, I’ve been making business software simple, accessible and pleasant to use, for SaaS companies, large corporations and the public sector.

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  • 13 years of product expertise
  • 50+ projects delivered
  • 3 platforms: web, iOS, Android

Clients who trusted me

  • TotalEnergies
  • Groupe Clarins
  • Chateauform’
  • Newrest
  • Beta.gouv.fr
  • Orka.tax
  • Ucar
  • Centre Pompidou-Metz
  • Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
  • Christian Drouin

Work. From B2B SaaS to cultural websites.

All projects 23

    Three areas of expertise. One point of contact.

    Design, compliance and the realities of a business meet in every project. I handle them together, with simple, direct communication, from leadership to developers.

    Product designer

    13 years · B2B and B2C SaaS

    A strong specialty in complex business software, for startups and large corporations alike. UX/UI audits, design systems aligned with the code, user flows and UI mockups.

    Accessibility auditor

    WCAG 2.1 AA · RGAA 4.1.2

    I audit websites, mobile apps and business software, and I build accessibility into the design system from the start. So you don’t fix things twice.

    Entrepreneur

    From tech startups to restaurants

    I’ve run my own companies. I think in terms of budget, deadlines and impact. I understand the trade-offs you make every week.

    Accessibility. A legal requirement, and a selling point.

    In Europe, the public sector and, since the European Accessibility Act, e-commerce, banking, transport and media must make their websites, apps and software accessible. A compliant product removes an objection at the time of purchase.

    That is the compliance rate the retailer Carrefour put forward before the court in Caen, France. The judge found it insufficient in a ruling of June 4, 2026.

    The website “cannot be only somewhat accessible; it must be fully accessible” (translated from French).
    • 6 months to comply
    • €500 penalty per day of delay
    • €10,000 in damages

    Who is covered, and since when

    1. 2016Web Accessibility Directive

      Public sector websites and mobile apps across the EU must be accessible.

    2. 2019European Accessibility Act

      The EU sets common accessibility requirements for key products and services sold to consumers.

    3. 2023France sets penalties

      Arcom, the French digital regulator, can audit, issue formal notices and fine up to €50,000 per non-compliant service.

    4. 2025The Act applies

      Since June 28, e-commerce, banking, transport and media are covered, whatever the size of the company.

    France’s RGAA 5 is expected in late 2026.

    RGAA, France’s official accessibility standard, will integrate WCAG 2.2, a test method dedicated to iOS and Android apps, and criteria for documents. What you fix today stays fixed. What changes with RGAA 5

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    Sources: Directive (EU) 2016/2102 · Directive (EU) 2019/882 · France: Order No. 2023-859 · Caen court, June 4, 2026 · DINUM, March 2, 2026. For information only; check with your legal counsel.

    All the details in the guide How an accessibility audit works

    The guide. What the European Accessibility Act requires.

    Cover of the guide “The European Accessibility Act: what it requires in 2026”

    A briefing in six short chapters, to share with your leadership and teams: who is covered, the technical standard, enforcement, the first court rulings, reputation and ESG, and how to get compliant.

    October 2026 · Online guide · About 8 minutes

    Download the French edition

    The French edition (PDF, 7 pages, 3.2 MB) focuses on French law. The online guide covers the European Union and works with screen readers.

    Services. On their own or combined.

    SaaS companies

    Product design support

    A senior product designer embedded in your team, at the pace of your sprints.

    • Prioritized UX/UI audit, desktop and mobile
    • UX roadmap and prioritization workshops
    • Wireframes and UI mockups

    From 2 days a week

    Talk about your product

    Large companies and the public sector

    Accessibility audit

    An audit of a representative sample of pages and user journeys, for a reliable compliance rate and an honest accessibility statement.

    • Full WCAG 2.1 AA audit grid (RGAA 4.1.2)
    • Fix plan ranked by impact for effort
    • Help with the accessibility statement

    Web, iOS and Android · online estimate

    Estimate my audit

    Product and tech teams

    Accessible design system

    Contrast, focus, labels, states and keyboard navigation built into the components. Fixed once, compliant everywhere.

    • Restructured Figma file
    • Components aligned with the code
    • Accessibility rules for each component

    As a dedicated engagement or as part of product support

    Let’s discuss it

    My approach, in three steps.

    1. Audit what exists

      Key journeys, consistency, readability and accessibility, on web and mobile.

      Prioritized audit report

    2. Build the design system

      Rework of the Figma file and an inventory of the coded components, with the developers.

      Kit aligned with the code

    3. Prioritize and design

      Co-creation workshops, information architecture, wireframes, then UI mockups.

      UX roadmap and mockups

    “Smooth communication, deadlines met, and a real ability to turn complex business constraints into a simple experience for the user.”

    Manon Bellin, co-founder of Orka.tax · Malt review, June 2026, translated from French

    Contact. Let’s talk about your product.

    All fields are required unless marked “optional.”

    What you need

    Your information is only used to answer your request. It is never passed on or used for any other purpose.

    Detailed case study coming soon: context, problem, approach and results.

    Year
    Industry
    Role
    Platform

    Screens

    Digital accessibility · October 2026

    The European Accessibility Act: what it requires in 2026

    Who is covered, the technical standard, enforcement, the first court rulings and what is at stake for your reputation, for companies and public bodies.

    Charles Peloye, product designer and accessibility auditor

    Who is covered

    Who is covered, and since when

    1. 2016
      Web Accessibility Directive

      Public sector websites and mobile apps across the EU must be accessible.

    2. 2019
      European Accessibility Act

      Adopted on April 17, 2019, it sets common accessibility requirements for key products and services sold to consumers in the EU.

    3. 2025
      The Act applies

      Since June 28, 2025, e-commerce, banking, transport, e-books, electronic communications and audiovisual media services are covered, whatever the size of the company. Only microenterprises that provide services are exempt: fewer than 10 employees and no more than €2 million in annual turnover or balance sheet.

    4. 2030
      End of the transition

      Services may keep using products already in use before June 28, 2025 until June 28, 2030. Self-service terminals may stay in use until the end of their economic life, 20 years at most.

    The Act applies to any business that sells these products or services to consumers in the EU, including businesses based outside the EU.

    In France, the 2005 Disability Act (Article 47) already required accessible public online services: websites, intranets, apps and software. Since 2019, it also covers companies with more than €250 million in revenue in France.

    Sources: Directive (EU) 2016/2102 · Directive (EU) 2019/882, Articles 4 and 32 · France: Law No. 2005-102, Article 47 · Decree No. 2019-768

    The standard

    What “accessible” means in practice

    The Act sets functional requirements. In practice, compliance is measured against EN 301 549, the harmonized European standard, which includes WCAG 2.1 level AA for websites, apps and documents.

    • WCAG 2.1 AA

      50 success criteria, at levels A and AA: text alternatives, contrast, keyboard use, focus, labels, error messages and more.

    • EN 301 549

      The European standard adds requirements for software, documents and support services.

    • Accessibility information

      Service providers must explain how their service meets the requirements, in their terms and conditions or an equivalent document.

    • WCAG 2.2

      Published in 2023, it adds six A and AA criteria: target size, dragging movements, accessible authentication and more. It is the best target for anything you build today.

    • France’s RGAA

      France’s official test method, based on WCAG 2.1 AA, with 106 criteria. RGAA 5, expected in late 2026, integrates WCAG 2.2, mobile apps and documents.

    Key point: WCAG 2.2 builds on 2.1 without contradicting it. What you fix today stays fixed.

    Sources: EN 301 549 · W3C, WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2 · Directive (EU) 2019/882, Annex V · DINUM, announcement of March 2, 2026

    Enforcement

    What a non-compliant organization risks

    Each EU country sets its own penalties and appoints its own authorities. France gives a concrete picture.

    Penalties in France, by authority and type of organization
    AuthorityOrganizations coveredPenalty
    Arcom, the digital regulatorPublic bodies and public service contractorsUp to €50,000per service that does not comply with RGAA
    ArcomAll organizations covered by Article 47, including companies with more than €250 million in revenue in FranceUp to €25,000for a missing statement, multi-year plan or action plan
    DGCCRF, the consumer protection authorityConsumer services covered by the European Accessibility Act€7,500per offense for a company, cumulative
    Civil courtsAny company taken to court, for example by a disability associationCourt order with daily penaltiesplus damages

    Arcom’s penalties can be imposed again if the breach lasts more than six months.

    Sources: France: Law No. 2005-102, Articles 47 and 47-1 · Consumer Code, Article L.412-13 · Decree No. 2023-931

    Case law

    The first rulings came in 2026

    that is the compliance rate the retailer Carrefour put forward before the court in Caen, France. The judge found it insufficient in a ruling of June 4, 2026.

    The website “cannot be only somewhat accessible; it must be fully accessible” (translated from French).
    • 6 months to comply
    • €500 penalty per day of delay
    • €10,000 in damages
    • Arcom · June 24, 2026

      First public formal notice, against the French tax website impots.gouv.fr. The decision was published in France’s Official Journal.

    • Auchan · May 5, 2026

      Associations lost in Lille, as the retailer’s e-commerce subsidiary was below the €250 million threshold. They have appealed.

    • E.Leclerc and Picard

      Taken to court at the same time as Carrefour. Leclerc’s hearing was set for September 22, 2026, in Créteil.

    Sources: Caen court, June 4, 2026 · Lille court, May 5, 2026 · Arcom, decision No. 2026-358 of June 24, 2026

    Reputation and ESG

    Beyond fines: reputation and ESG

    12 to 15 million people with disabilities in France alone, according to DINUM, France’s interministerial digital agency. Add older people and temporary disabilities. For them, a blocked journey is a sale or an application that never goes through.

    • Public exposure

      In France, Arcom’s formal notices are published in the Official Journal, and associations publicize every lawsuit.

    • A reporting topic

      Under the EU’s CSRD, the ESRS S4 standard covers customers’ access to products and services and non-discrimination.

    • A purchasing criterion

      Public buyers require accessibility in their tenders. A non-compliant supplier also exposes its client.

    • An employer issue

      Intranets and business tools must be accessible too: in France, they fall under Article 47. Their accessibility determines whether people with disabilities can do their jobs.

    Sources: DINUM · Official Journal of the French Republic · EFRAG, ESRS S4 Consumers and end-users · Directive 2014/24/EU, Article 42

    Taking action

    Three steps to compliance

    1. Measure

      An accessibility audit on a representative sample of pages and journeys. It gives a reliable compliance rate and supports an honest accessibility statement.

    2. Prioritize

      A fix plan ranked by impact for effort. Many issues are fixed once and for all in the design system.

    3. Build it in

      Accessibility from the design stage, WCAG 2.2 included, so you don’t fix things twice.

    Contact me Download the French edition

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