Color Theory in Digital Design: Psychology and Accessibility

Color decisions impact user behavior, brand perception, and interface usability simultaneously. Color psychology varies by culture and context—red signals danger in Western cultures but luck in Chinese culture. Digital color considerations include screen variations, accessibility requirements, and color blindness accommodation affecting 8% of men and 0.5% of women. WCAG contrast requirements ensure text readability, while color-blind-friendly palettes expand audience reach. Color systems include primary brand colors, functional colors for success/error states, and neutral grays for text and backgrounds. Tools like Coolors, Adobe Color, and Stark help create accessible, harmonious palettes. Implementation requires consistent color tokens, documentation for developers, and testing across devices. Brand colors should work across digital and print applications, requiring careful CMYK/RGB translation.