Making it simple to ensure the use of colour is both on brand and accessible

Presenter: Matthew Deeprose.

Presented as part of the "Using technology to develop inclusive learning experiences" webinar at the University of Kent.

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Example brand accessibility matrix

Would you like a brand colour accessibility matrix for your colour palette?

I can generate a brand colour accessibility matrix for your colour palette. To do so I will need to know:
  1. Create text or CSV (comma separated) file containing the HTML colour codes of your brand. Remember to include the color white, it may not be in your official brand, but it is very likely that you use it in your materials.
  2. If you use 'names' for your colours, include them as shown in the example below.
  3. Email your text or CSV file to me and let me know the name of your institution or brand. The institution or brand name will appear in the title of the page.
  4. Within a week I will send you a zip file containing the HTML files and dataset that you may then use with your colleagues or host on your website. You are free to make any changes you wish to the files, copy them, share them as you like. Here is an example zip file for the University of Southampton accessibility matrix. The script takes between 1 and 4 hours to run depending on the amount of colours in the brand. The length of time is because the WebAIM API is used for checking and I leave a ten second delay between each query so as not to hammer it.
Example file contents
#FFFFFF, White
#FAFF7F, Medicine yellow
#FF5154, Art pink
#91A6FF, Science blue
#FF0000, Humanities red
#228B22, Biology green
#181818, University black.

Presentation Synopsis

With more than two million people in the UK living with a visual impairment and many more having difficulties with their sight, it is crucial that, when we create content, we make accessible colour choices.

I will explain the importance of considering contrast when we use colour and share my own journey and lessons that resulted in the development of a method to make it simpler and easier to help my colleagues make accessible colour choices.

If time allows I will demonstrate further real-world examples and solutions that you can replicate at your own institution.

Links used in the presentation (in order of appearance)

Links used in the "if time allows" part of the presentation (in order of appearance)

Further resources

Why is Colour Contrast important?

Useful tools

Learn more about digital accessibility

February 2021