Jan 20, 2025
Making Color Accessibility Simple
An easy-to-follow guide to the WCAG 2.1 contrast levels and practical ways to build inclusive color systems for your design workflows.
Accessibility
WCAG
Why color matters
Choosing colors in your UI is about more than aesthetics. It’s about making products usable for everyone.
Understanding the impact of contrast
When you pick a color palette only for how it “looks”, you risk excluding users who struggle with vision or contrast. Accessibility isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a necessity. The WCAG 2.1 framework exists to guide how accessible your colors need to be. Using the right contrast makes a difference in usability and inclusivity.
WCAG 2.1 contrast levels
Here’s a simple breakdown of what each level means. Choose your baseline:
Level A (Less than 4.5 :1): Acceptable only for decorative elements or content that isn’t essential.
Level AA (4.5 :1 or more): The baseline you should aim for across text, buttons, and forms.
Level AAA (7 :1 or more): Ideal for maximum accessibility but not always required.
Practical application
How much contrast is enough?
A good rule of thumb is to maintain at least 4.5 :1 contrast for all essential UI elements including text, buttons, and forms. This helps cover most users, including those with moderate vision loss.
Accessibility is not optional.
Tools and techniques to help you
Start by using plugins, extensions, or built-in tools like contrast checkers in Figma. Some recommended resources include:
WebAIM Contrast Checker
Stark for Figma
A11y Color Contrast Checker
Designing for accessibility is about more than compliance, but it’s about creating experiences everyone can enjoy. By focusing on contrast and using tools like WCAG guidelines and plugins, you can build designs that are not only functional but also inclusive. That’s a win-win for your users and your product.
More Works
FAQ
01
What kind of projects have you worked on?
02
How do you usually collaborate on projects?
03
Do you take freelance or consulting projects?
04
What tools do you use?
05
How do you approach new projects?
06
Can you help set up a design system?
07
How can I get in touch?
Jan 20, 2025
Making Color Accessibility Simple
An easy-to-follow guide to the WCAG 2.1 contrast levels and practical ways to build inclusive color systems for your design workflows.
Accessibility
WCAG
Why color matters
Choosing colors in your UI is about more than aesthetics. It’s about making products usable for everyone.
Understanding the impact of contrast
When you pick a color palette only for how it “looks”, you risk excluding users who struggle with vision or contrast. Accessibility isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a necessity. The WCAG 2.1 framework exists to guide how accessible your colors need to be. Using the right contrast makes a difference in usability and inclusivity.
WCAG 2.1 contrast levels
Here’s a simple breakdown of what each level means. Choose your baseline:
Level A (Less than 4.5 :1): Acceptable only for decorative elements or content that isn’t essential.
Level AA (4.5 :1 or more): The baseline you should aim for across text, buttons, and forms.
Level AAA (7 :1 or more): Ideal for maximum accessibility but not always required.
Practical application
How much contrast is enough?
A good rule of thumb is to maintain at least 4.5 :1 contrast for all essential UI elements including text, buttons, and forms. This helps cover most users, including those with moderate vision loss.
Accessibility is not optional.
Tools and techniques to help you
Start by using plugins, extensions, or built-in tools like contrast checkers in Figma. Some recommended resources include:
WebAIM Contrast Checker
Stark for Figma
A11y Color Contrast Checker
Designing for accessibility is about more than compliance, but it’s about creating experiences everyone can enjoy. By focusing on contrast and using tools like WCAG guidelines and plugins, you can build designs that are not only functional but also inclusive. That’s a win-win for your users and your product.
More Works
FAQ
01
What kind of projects have you worked on?
02
How do you usually collaborate on projects?
03
Do you take freelance or consulting projects?
04
What tools do you use?
05
How do you approach new projects?
06
Can you help set up a design system?
07
How can I get in touch?
Jan 20, 2025
Making Color Accessibility Simple
An easy-to-follow guide to the WCAG 2.1 contrast levels and practical ways to build inclusive color systems for your design workflows.
Accessibility
WCAG
Why color matters
Choosing colors in your UI is about more than aesthetics. It’s about making products usable for everyone.
Understanding the impact of contrast
When you pick a color palette only for how it “looks”, you risk excluding users who struggle with vision or contrast. Accessibility isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a necessity. The WCAG 2.1 framework exists to guide how accessible your colors need to be. Using the right contrast makes a difference in usability and inclusivity.
WCAG 2.1 contrast levels
Here’s a simple breakdown of what each level means. Choose your baseline:
Level A (Less than 4.5 :1): Acceptable only for decorative elements or content that isn’t essential.
Level AA (4.5 :1 or more): The baseline you should aim for across text, buttons, and forms.
Level AAA (7 :1 or more): Ideal for maximum accessibility but not always required.
Practical application
How much contrast is enough?
A good rule of thumb is to maintain at least 4.5 :1 contrast for all essential UI elements including text, buttons, and forms. This helps cover most users, including those with moderate vision loss.
Accessibility is not optional.
Tools and techniques to help you
Start by using plugins, extensions, or built-in tools like contrast checkers in Figma. Some recommended resources include:
WebAIM Contrast Checker
Stark for Figma
A11y Color Contrast Checker
Designing for accessibility is about more than compliance, but it’s about creating experiences everyone can enjoy. By focusing on contrast and using tools like WCAG guidelines and plugins, you can build designs that are not only functional but also inclusive. That’s a win-win for your users and your product.
More Works
FAQ
What kind of projects have you worked on?
How do you usually collaborate on projects?
Do you take freelance or consulting projects?
What tools do you use?
How do you approach new projects?
Can you help set up a design system?
How can I get in touch?