Color accessibility in design is more important than ever in 2024. As a designer, it's necessary to ensure that everyone, including those with visual impairments, can interact with your creations in a fluid, easy manner. This year, some states have made it law that websites and digital content must meet specific color contrast standards, font sizes, and more. This is a big deal for all of us graphic designers. When I’m working on logos, websites, or any other graphics, I’m constantly thinking and reminding myself about how color choices will affect all users. It’s not only about making visually stand out to me. Making sure it’s accessible to everyone has taken priority. By following these guidelines, not only are we creating inclusive designs, but we’re also staying ahead of legal requirements, which is a win-win for our clients and their audience.
When it comes to implementing color accessibility, there are a few key practices I tend to keep in mind. First, I make sure that the color contrast ratio between text and its background is high enough to be easily readable by people with visual impairments. Tools like contrast checkers like Coolors are incredibly helpful for this. I also avoid relying solely on color to convey important information, like in charts or buttons, by adding patterns or text labels to ensure clarity for everyone. Don’t forget about testing designs with real users whenever possible. There are forums and groups available for you to ask for people to test out your site and get feedback about it’s accessibility. This hands-on approach gives human insights that tools can’t provide.
We have the power to create experiences that are not only visually stunning but also universally accessible, which is becoming an increasing expectation in our industry.