I finally snapped at a client over contrast ratios yesterday

Had a client tell me my dark mode design was "too harsh on the eyes" because I used pure white text on a #121212 background. I tried explaining that WCAG requires at least a 4.5:1 ratio and that's actually a 13.6:1 contrast. She said "well my iPhone looks fine with gray text at 50% opacity" and I just lost it. Has anyone else had to fight this battle with someone who refuses to understand accessibility basics?

2 comments

2 Comments

rayc8317d ago

Have you tried showing them with a side by side comparison on the same screen? Sometimes people just don't understand until they see it laid out right next to each other, like a printed proof. I had a similar thing with a small business owner who insisted on light gray text, and I had to literally dim the screen to show her how it disappeared in real world lighting. It's amazing how many folks think accessibility is about personal taste rather than basic readability.

brown.susan14d agoMost Upvoted

Actually showing them in situ worked best for me. I took a screenshot of their website, pulled it into a photo editor, and dropped a grayscale filter over it. When they saw their brand colors turned into muddy grey blobs that all looked the same, it suddenly clicked. One client argued that nobody uses their phone on low brightness in direct sunlight, so I pulled up my phone and walked outside. Watched her squint at her own design for about five seconds before she agreed to fix the contrast. Some people need to see it fail out in the real world before they believe you.