Guides / 04—08
Communicate meaning without color alone
Add text, shape or pattern when color conveys a state or instruction.
Find missing information
Red and green can help, but some readers cannot easily distinguish them. If a form only colors an invalid field red, the error and remedy may remain unclear.
Provide a second cue
Write a message near the field, use an icon with a text label, or add patterns and numbers to a chart. Color may reinforce the message; the second cue must carry the same meaning without palette guesswork.
Try a color-free check
View the design in grayscale or read its labels alone. Ask whether status, sequence and choices remain clear. This check complements, rather than replaces, measuring color-pair contrast.
References
Read nextCheck input boundaries, icons and essential graphics ↗