Design / FIELDNOTES
Give colour a purpose.
A restrained palette can make important moments easier to recognise.
Establish the foundation
Start with readable text and dependable surfaces. The foundation should support long paragraphs, small labels and ordinary controls before accents enter the picture.
Check the same content in light and dark modes. Colours need to work in their actual surroundings.
Choose where attention belongs
Give the main action a consistent accent. Repeating that relationship helps someone recognise the next step across different pages.
Supporting colours can communicate status, but the meaning also needs visible text. A colour alone cannot explain whether work is complete or needs attention.
Review the complete page
Look at the page as a whole. If everything calls for attention, the important action becomes harder to find.
Restraint creates room for emphasis. Use the accent where it helps someone understand or act, then let the remaining content do its work quietly.
Give the important things a clear place, and enough room to be understood.