Brand colour palettes that pass accessibility
6 min read
Short answer
Build an accessible brand palette by choosing your colour identity first, then deriving a darker text-safe version of each colour for use on light backgrounds. Check every text and background pairing at 4.5:1, and never rely on colour alone to carry meaning.
One hue, three roles
Each brand colour needs three versions: a saturated version for large blocks and buttons, a darker version for text on white, and a very light version for backgrounds.
Never use colour alone
Category, status and error states all need a label, an icon or a shape alongside the colour, so the meaning survives for colour-blind readers and greyscale printing.