For some people, colour is of limited importance due to colour vision deficiencies (colour blindness). It is important to be aware of how to design effectively with colour, to ensure the information is accessible to everyone.
Teaching colour to those who cannot perceive colour, in particular the colour of objects, is often a good idea as it can help adults and children fit in socially. Subtle social clues like noticing colour changes in people, for example when somebody is pale due to illness, may go unnoticed.
Within the workplace, colour vision deficiency poses similar issues. There are occupations where those who have a colour vision deficiency are barred from practice. This includes roles where responding to colour is crucial to safety, for example pilots and most uniformed services.
Other issues raised by having colour vision deficiency include difficulty establishing which clothes match in colour, and identifying food when it is fresh or ripe (for example which bananas are green and which are yellow, or detecting the green poisonous tinge of a potato).
This section will describe colour vision deficiency, explain the importance of colour contrast, show testing for colour accessibility, give tips for effective colour use and ask what is colour?
For further guidance on colour, please read our guidance document: