Color Usage Guidelines

Comprehensive guidelines for using color effectively and consistently across products

Color Theory Fundamentals
Understanding the basics of color theory to make informed design decisions

Color Properties

Hue

The pure color itself (red, blue, yellow, etc.)

Saturation

The intensity or purity of a color

Brightness/Value

How light or dark a color appears

Color Relationships

Complementary

Colors opposite each other on the color wheel

Analogous

Colors adjacent to each other on the color wheel

Triadic

Three colors equally spaced on the color wheel

Color Psychology

Blue

Trust, security, stability, reliability

Green

Growth, health, nature, prosperity

Red

Energy, passion, danger, importance

Yellow

Optimism, clarity, warmth, attention

Core Color Principles
Guiding principles for using color in our design system

Purposeful

Every color choice should serve a specific purpose in the interface. Avoid using color purely for decoration.

Consistent

Use colors consistently across products to build recognition and reduce cognitive load for users.

Accessible

Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background colors to maintain readability for all users.

Hierarchical

Use color to establish visual hierarchy and guide users' attention to important elements.

Balanced

Create visual harmony by balancing color usage throughout the interface. Avoid overwhelming users with too many colors.

Meaningful

Leverage color associations to communicate meaning (e.g., red for errors, green for success).