Saw a designer argue that high contrast is always the right answer

I was sitting at a community college workshop last Tuesday and heard a UI designer tell the class that WCAG contrast ratios should be the rule for every design decision. I get that accessibility matters, but I think that approach misses something important. For some folks with certain types of migraines or light sensitivity, that maximum contrast can actually cause pain. Has anyone else had to balance accessibility guidelines against real user comfort?

2 comments

2 Comments

felix_martin5610h ago

Oh man, that's a really good point. I've definitely seen people with light sensitivity struggle with those super high contrast setups.

tessawebb2h ago

Last Tuesday during a lunch break I actually had a guy tell me high contrast was the only ethical choice - meanwhile I could feel my own eyes starting to water just looking at his screen. Felix_martin56 nailed it though, those one-size-fits-all rules always hit a wall when real people show up.