Summary:

Matthew Ström delves into the evolution of color selection in design systems. The increasing need for accessibility, adaptability, and consistency presents new challenges in modern software design.

Learn about the transition from traditional, manually picked color palettes to the use of uniform color spaces such as the OKHsl color space for generating aesthetically pleasing and accessible systems.

Ström also presents a set of functions that utilize scale numbers to control hue, saturation, and lightness while maintaining accessibility by calculating contrast ratios. The article goes on to propose a flexible and scalable framework for managing colors in design systems, balancing creativity and inclusivity.

Main points:

• Evolution of color selection in design systems

• The shift towards perceptually uniform color spaces for accessibility and aesthetics

• There's a need for flexibility and inclusivity in color systems for growing products

Quotes:

Modern software needs accessibility, adaptability, and consistency across dozens of devices, themes, and contexts.

Their method offered a new approach to selection to enhance beauty and usability, grounded in scientific understanding of human vision.

Conclusion:

The article concludes by presenting a tool for generating expressive, functional, and accessible color systems for design systems, symbolizing a fundamental shift in the approach towards color selection. It stresses the balance between creativity and inclusivity as crucial aspects in the creation of modern design palettes.

References:

• Koopersmith, D., & Miner, W. "Designing accessible color systems." Stripe Blog. Available at: https://stripe.com/blog/accessible-color-systems