color-system

A WCAG-compliant color system ensures sufficient contrast between text and backgrounds. Define your base colors, generate harmonious palettes using techniques like complementary or triadic schemes, then validate contrast ratios for all color pairs against WCAG AA or AAA thresholds before implementing semantic tokens.

Semantic tokens map colors to functional roles—primary, secondary, error—rather than literal names. Use CSS variables to store token values, then swap token assignments between light and dark contexts. This lets you maintain one design system with consistent theming across both modes.

Color harmony techniques—monochromatic, analogous, complementary, and triadic—generate balanced palettes from a single base color. Each technique creates predictable relationships that scale across UI components and contexts while maintaining visual coherence and brand consistency.

Yes. A standardized color system with semantic tokens works across design systems, UI kits, and product branding. Store tokens in a centralized configuration, then reference them in component libraries and product implementations to ensure consistency at scale.

WCAG standards require minimum 4.5:1 contrast for normal text, 3:1 for large text, and 3:1 for UI components and graphics. Test all foreground-background pairs in your palette—both light and dark modes—to confirm compliance before deployment.

Document color definitions, harmony rationale, contrast validations, and token mappings for light and dark modes. Include real-world examples in your design system, provide token names and values for developers, and establish guidelines for extending the palette consistently.