Understanding UI Color Requirements
UI color schemes differ from general design palettes by needing to fulfill specific functional roles in an interface. A successful UI color scheme must:
- Establish clear visual hierarchy
- Communicate interactive elements
- Convey system status and feedback
- Maintain readability and accessibility
- Support brand identity
The 60-30-10 Rule
This classic design principle provides balance in UI color application:
- 60% Dominant Color: Sets the overall tone (usually neutral)
- 30% Secondary Color: Provides visual interest
- 10% Accent Color: Highlights key interactive elements
Functional Color Roles
Assign colors based on their purpose in the interface:
- Primary: Main brand color for key actions
- Secondary: Alternative actions
- Success: Positive actions and confirmations
- Danger: Destructive actions and errors
- Warning: Cautionary messages
- Info: Neutral information
Accessibility Considerations
Ensure your color scheme meets WCAG guidelines:
- Text should have at least 4.5:1 contrast against background
- Large text (18pt+) needs 3:1 contrast
- UI components need 3:1 contrast against adjacent colors
- Don't rely solely on color to convey information
- Test with color blindness simulators
Creating Color Variations
Systematic color scales ensure consistency:
- Start with your base colors
- Create 9-step scales (from lightest to darkest)
- Use consistent increments for lightness/saturation
- Name colors by purpose (primary-500) rather than appearance
- Document usage guidelines for each variation
Dark Mode Implementation
Modern UIs should support dark mode:
- Don't simply invert light mode colors
- Adjust saturation for better readability in dark
- Use darker shades of accent colors
- Consider semantic naming (surface-01, text-01)
- Test in both modes simultaneously
Tools for UI Color Systems
These tools help create and manage UI color schemes:
- Adobe Color for palette generation
- ColorBox by Lyft for systematic scales
- Colorable for accessibility testing
- Theme UI for design token management
- CSS variables for implementation