When Color Fails: Why Relying on Color Alone Excludes People
Bobby Bailey
Vibe Check – When Color Fails: Why Relying on Color Alone Excludes People
Designing with color is second nature to most designers, but using color as the only indicator creates a major accessibility barrier. People with color blindness, low vision, or cognitive disabilities may not perceive color cues the same way others do. When important information is conveyed only through color, these individuals may miss key details—leading to frustration and exclusion.
A Personal Story – The Day I Realized Color Alone Wasn’t Enough
I still remember the moment it clicked for me. I was reviewing a web form for a client, and everything looked great—error messages highlighted in red, success messages glowing in green. It was clean, modern, and visually appealing.
Then I tested it with a color blindness simulator.
Suddenly, those error messages didn’t stand out at all. The “required field” indicator? Practically invisible. A person with red-green color blindness wouldn’t have been able to tell if they had filled out the form correctly or not.
Worse, I realized that anyone using grayscale settings, dark mode, or assistive technology would struggle too. That moment shifted my entire approach to design—color alone was never going to be enough.
Let’s explore why relying on color alone is problematic and how to elevate the vibe with better, more inclusive design choices.
Elevate the Vibe – Why Color-Only Indicators Create Accessibility Barriers
Color Blindness Affects a Large Portion of People
Around 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of color blindness. If your design relies on red for errors or green for success, some people may not be able to distinguish the difference.
Quick Fix: Pair color with icons, labels, or underlines to make sure meaning isn’t lost.
Low Vision & Screen Display Variability
People with low vision, as well as those using monochrome screens or high-contrast modes, may not perceive color the way it was intended.
Quick Fix: Test your design in high contrast mode or grayscale to see if everything still makes sense.
Cognitive & Situational Accessibility Challenges
Instructions like “click the red button” can be confusing for people with cognitive disabilities who may struggle with color association or visual perception.
Quick Fix: Instead of saying “click the red button,” be explicit: “Click the Submit button.”
Not Everyone Views the Web in Full Color
People browsing in grayscale mode, dark mode, or using e-ink displays may lose all color cues, making color-based instructions completely useless.
Quick Fix: Always add text labels and alternative cues to ensure clarity.
Self-Reflection – Are Your Designs Accessible Beyond Color?
Ask yourself:
- Do my form errors include text descriptions instead of just red highlights?
- Are required fields marked with an asterisk (*) and not just a color?
- Do I provide underlines for links instead of relying on color alone?
- Is there an icon or text cue when color is used to convey meaning?
- Have I tested my design in grayscale to see if all elements remain distinguishable?
If you answered no to any of these, it’s time to rethink your approach.