Our team hit 40% color contrast compliance on our first audit and it felt like a failure

We ran our new app through a basic contrast checker, thinking we were doing okay, and only 4 out of 10 key elements passed. It was a real gut check on how much we'd missed. Some folks think hitting a number like that means you just need to tweak a few hex codes, but others argue it shows a deeper problem with the design system from the start. What's your take, is a low initial score a simple fix or a sign to go back to the drawing board?

3 comments

3 Comments

reese55112d ago

Start by saying that 40% is like showing up to a spelling bee and only missing half the words, you are at least in the game. @beth719 is right though, most teams I have seen start way worse, like 20% or something, so you are already ahead of the curve. That still means 6 out of 10 things are basically invisible to someone, which is rough. It feels like your design system might have been built by someone who hates the color wheel or something. But really, it is just a bunch of bad hex codes, not a total rewrite of your whole app. Just grab a coffee, fix the contrast ratios one by one, and act like you meant to do it all along.

michaelcoleman2mo ago

That 40% score is actually a solid starting point for a first audit. Most teams I've seen start way lower. It's a fixable gap, not a broken system.

beth7192mo ago

Most teams start way lower" feels off. Every first audit I've seen was under 30%. 40% isn't just solid, it's unusually high.