Green means go!…Or does it?
If you couldn’t rely on color for the cue, how might you convey to someone that their requirement or step is successful or complete?
At Heuristics, we work to simplify credential management for all users. Accessibility is a path, not an endpoint. Steps can always be taken toward greater accessibility to make the user experience (of software and the world) more accessible to a broader population. We’ll never claim to be perfect, but we are committed to constant improvement.
Part of that work means ensuring that LearningBuilder’s UI conveys information clearly, regardless of a user’s color perception. After all, color vision disparities affect approximately one out of every 20 people, with many variations beyond the commonly recognized “red-green.”
Color Vision Accessibility in UI Design
Don’t be sure that the way you see color is the only one! Many browser tools allow you to see how your site appears to a range of color vision types.
With all of these different color perception “palettes” in mind, how can organizations and companies approach software UI design?
The general rule of thumb is: “Never rely on color alone to convey information.”
A UI strategy that also uses contrast, text, underlined links, and clearly symbolic icons can make the software more accessible to users with different color perceptions.
LearningBuilder’s Approach to Color Vision Accessibility
One of our guiding design principles is to make it easy for system participants to “know what’s next.” Credential applications are rigorous and comprehensive, which is exactly why they should be easy to navigate.
When optimizing for UI accessibility, we pay particular attention to LearningBuilder’s Certification Dashboard and our Learning Plans or Applications, as they are often the most widely used areas of the system. Here’s how we approach color perception in LearningBuilder’s UI design:
Hue and Contrast
Color blindness may affect the way someone perceives different hues, like reds, greens, and blues. The contrast levels in a system’s UI can help users perceive how different elements relate to each other. This makes the design more legible overall.
While it is true that certain colors (red, orange, blue, and green) each have a specific meaning in LearningBuilder, we’ve designed the UI so that users with color blindness can still use contrast to differentiate between text, backgrounds, buttons, etc.
Text and Symbols
Why solely rely on color? By using a system of iconography and text in addition to color, we ensure that even in total greyscale, a user can still move forward with confidence in their process. For example, a step that is “locked” is represented by a closed lock, and a check mark denotes a successful completion. Green or not, progress bars show quantified accomplishments as they relate to the application as a whole.
We also add specific, descriptive text to provide an additional layer of information. LearningBuilder clients have an opportunity to select their own button labels and status titles. We always recommend they keep accessibility in mind and use simple, clear, and action-oriented text throughout.
Underlined Links
Users shouldn’t have to rely on a hover to find a hyperlink. They have come to expect underlined text to contain links. Therefore, in addition to color or font weight changes, underlined links help ensure that your linked text is easily discernible.
LearningBuilder: Credential Management for All
Since 2010, we’ve been working to make LearningBuilder an increasingly accessible, best-in-class solution for professional certification, license, and accreditation management. We understand that when we design for a greater range of specific experiences in mind, we improve the overall experience for everyone who uses the system.
If you are seeking a new technology partner this year, don’t wait! Schedule a call with us to continue the conversation.
