Don't rely on color alone

Colors effectively communicate meaning but should never be the only indicator of important information or states. When color serves as the sole differentiator, people with color vision deficiencies or those using monochrome displays miss critical context.

Always pair color with additional cues to reinforce your message. Error states benefit from warning icons, descriptive text, and sometimes tactile feedback (like vibration on mobile). Success messages should include checkmarks or confirmation icons alongside green coloration. Data visualizations need patterns, labels, or shapes to distinguish between categories that might otherwise rely solely on color differences.

This multi-sensory approach ensures information remains accessible regardless of how users perceive color. It also improves usability for everyone in challenging environments like bright sunlight or when using night mode.