I would like to suggest several improvements for the ChatGPT desktop app, with a particular focus on accessibility, usability and clear visual wayfinding.

As a graphic designer, I am especially interested in how the interface communicates functions visually. Some of these suggestions would be useful for everyone, but they could make a significant difference for people with hearing or visual impairments, older users, and people with motor or cognitive limitations.

1. Independent volume control for ChatGPT Voice

Please consider adding a dedicated volume control for Voice output directly within the ChatGPT app.

Currently, on Windows, ChatGPT can already be set to 100% in the Windows Volume Mixer. At that point there is no further way to increase the Voice output without changing the audio hardware or using third-party software.

An independent Voice volume control would be much more than a convenience feature.

It would be an important accessibility feature for people with hearing impairments, including people whose hearing has become weaker with age.

Ideally, ChatGPT Voice should have its own volume slider, for example:

Voice volume: 0–200%

This would allow users to make the spoken output clearly audible without affecting the volume of other applications or the overall Windows volume.

2. More extensive accessibility settings for visual presentation

I would also strongly recommend adding independent accessibility settings for the visual presentation of ChatGPT.

For example:

  • Font size
  • Text scaling
  • Contrast
  • Background colour
  • Text colour
  • High-contrast themes
  • Possibly different predefined accessibility profiles

This would make ChatGPT considerably easier to use for people with impaired vision.

Ideally, these settings should be available directly within ChatGPT rather than relying entirely on operating-system accessibility settings.

3. Keyboard shortcut for starting Voice

A configurable keyboard shortcut for starting ChatGPT Voice would be extremely useful.

My suggestion would be:

Space + V → Start Voice

I think this would make particular sense because it could complement the existing:

Alt + Space → Launch ChatGPT

The use of V for Voice is easy to remember and quick to type.

It could also become the basis for a consistent and expandable shortcut system:

  • Space + V → Voice
  • Space + C → New chat
  • Space + S → Search
  • Space + … → future functions

This would provide a simple and memorable way to access important ChatGPT functions without navigating the interface with a mouse.

Ideally, these shortcuts should have sensible defaults while remaining configurable by the user.

4. Clearer visual wayfinding and larger, recognizable pictograms

My fourth suggestion concerns the general navigation and visual hierarchy of the application.

As a graphic designer, I find the current wayfinding through the interface somewhat difficult to understand at first glance.

I would recommend making important functions more visually explicit through larger, clearly recognizable pictograms.

For example:

:gear: Settings
:studio_microphone: Voice
:speaker_high_volume: Audio
:eye: Accessibility

The goal would not be to make the interface more decorative. Rather, it would be to establish a clearer visual hierarchy and make important functions immediately recognizable.

Large and familiar pictograms can be particularly helpful for:

  • people with visual impairments
  • older users
  • users with motor difficulties
  • users with cognitive limitations
  • users who are simply unfamiliar with the interface

Why I think these improvements matter

ChatGPT is increasingly becoming an everyday tool for communication, information and assistance.

That makes accessibility increasingly important.

Some of these changes may seem small from a technical perspective, but they can have a significant impact on whether someone can use the application comfortably and independently.

I would therefore strongly encourage OpenAI to consider these features not merely as optional convenience features, but as part of the accessibility and inclusive UX of ChatGPT.

Thank you for considering these suggestions. I would be very interested to hear what other users think, particularly users who rely on accessibility features.