Color Palette

A color palette is a curated collection of colors chosen for use in a digital product's interface. It defines the visual identity of the product, supports functional roles such as indicating actions or statuses, and ensures visual consistency across different components and screens. Designers carefully select colors based on usability, branding, and emotional impact.

Most palettes include primary, secondary, and accent colors. The primary color is used most frequently and is often tied to the brand identity. Secondary colors support variety and depth, while accent colors are used sparingly to highlight actions or draw attention. Background, surface, and text colors are also defined to ensure readability.

In UI design, color is not only aesthetic but functional. Colors are used to signal interactivity, differentiate states (e.g., active vs. inactive), and convey information (e.g., red for errors, green for success). A well-structured palette helps users quickly understand how to interact with the interface.

Accessibility is a major concern when choosing a color palette. Designers must ensure sufficient contrast between text and backgrounds, especially for users with visual impairments. Tools like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) help validate that color combinations meet readability standards.

A flexible color system also considers light and dark mode support. This involves selecting color pairs that remain legible and visually harmonious in both themes. Design tokens or variables are often used to manage color implementation across components and screen sizes.

Color palettes should be documented within a design system for easy reference and consistency. A defined palette reduces guesswork, aligns design and development teams, and reinforces brand identity throughout the product.

Learn more about this in our Creating a Color Palette Lesson, a part of the Color Psychology Course.

Key features of Color Palette

• Defines a consistent color scheme for an interface
• Includes primary, secondary, accent, and background colors
• Supports branding, emotion, and user interaction
• Ensures text and UI elements meet accessibility standards
• Adapts to light and dark mode requirements
• Reduces inconsistency in design implementation
• Often documented in design systems or style guides