Digital accessibility is a growing topic in modern web and app design. However, one lesser-discussed aspect is color accessibility for people with various types of color blindness—a condition affecting around 8% of men and 0.5% of women worldwide. Overlooking this element can exclude a significant portion of users from digital experiences.

How Does Color Blindness Impact Digital Content?

Color blindness doesn’t mean a complete inability to see colors but rather a difficulty in distinguishing them. The three most common types are:

• Deuteranopia (insensitivity to green) – Difficulties distinguishing between green and red hues.
• Protanopia (insensitivity to red) – Similar to deuteranopia, but with different intensity in red-green confusion.
• Tritanopia (insensitivity to blue) – A rarer type, causing confusion between blue and yellow hues.

Designers who neglect these differences risk creating interfaces where critical elements like buttons, links, or error messages become unreadable for people with color blindness.

Best Design Practices

Use more than color

‍Color should not be the sole indicator of information. For example, instead of marking errors with red alone, add a warning icon or explanatory text.

Choose proper contrast levels

‍Even those with mild color vision deficiencies may struggle with low contrast. Tools like Contrast Checker can help ensure text and background meet WCAG standards.

Test for different color vision modes

‍Tools that simulate color blindness, such as browser plugins or graphic design software, allow designers to see their work through the eyes of people with various vision impairments.

Avoid color-based instructions

‍Instructions like "Click the green button" are not helpful to people who can’t see green. Instead, describe the function, e.g., "Click the button labeled 'Start.'"

Real-World Examples

Companies like Google and Microsoft have implemented features tailored to color-blind users, such as customizable color palettes or additional graphic indicators. This approach not only enhances accessibility but also sets an example of responsible design.

Why It Matters

Designing for color blindness isn’t just an ethical imperative—it’s also good business. Improved accessibility broadens your audience, increases user loyalty, and enhances your brand’s reputation as inclusive and thoughtful.

If you haven’t yet analyzed your project for color accessibility, now is the time to start. Small changes can make a big difference for people who face daily challenges in perceiving colors.