What techniques can you use to test color and contrast for mobile designs?

1 Use color contrast tools

One of the simplest and most effective ways to test color and contrast for mobile designs is to use online tools that measure the contrast ratio between your foreground and background colors. A contrast ratio is a numerical value that indicates how well two colors can be distinguished from each other. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend a minimum contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, icons, and user interface components. You can use tools like WebAIM's Contrast Checker, Color Safe, or Contrast to enter your colors and see if they meet the WCAG standards. These tools can also suggest alternative colors that have better contrast.

2 Simulate different devices and environments

Another technique that you can use to test color and contrast for mobile designs is to simulate how your app or website will look on different devices and in different environments. You can use tools like Chrome DevTools, Firefox Developer Tools, or Safari Web Inspector to adjust the screen size, resolution, and pixel density of your browser window, and see how your design adapts to various mobile devices. You can also use tools like Color Oracle, Sim Daltonism, or NoCoffee to simulate how your design will appear to users with different types of color blindness or visual impairments. Additionally, you can use tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch to preview your design on real devices, and test how it looks under different lighting conditions, such as bright sunlight, dim light, or dark mode.

3 Conduct user testing and feedback

A third technique that you can use to test color and contrast for mobile designs is to conduct user testing and feedback sessions with real or potential users of your app or website. User testing and feedback can help you validate your color and contrast choices, and identify any issues or preferences that your users may have. You can use tools like UserTesting, UsabilityHub, or Lookback to recruit and conduct user tests online, and collect qualitative and quantitative data on how your users interact with your design. You can also use tools like Hotjar, Google Analytics, or Firebase to track and analyze how your users behave on your app or website, and see how color and contrast affect metrics like engagement, retention, and conversion.

4 Apply color theory and psychology principles

A fourth technique that you can use to test color and contrast for mobile designs is to apply color theory and psychology principles to your design decisions. Color theory and psychology are fields of study that explore how colors affect human perception, emotion, and behavior. By understanding the meanings, associations, and effects of different colors, you can create more appealing, harmonious, and functional mobile designs. You can use tools like Adobe Color, Coolors, or Paletton to create and test color schemes based on color theory concepts, such as the color wheel, the color harmony, and the color context. You can also use tools like Color Emotion Guide, Color Psychology, or Color Matters to learn and test how different colors influence user moods, preferences, and actions.

5 Follow best practices and guidelines

A fifth technique that you can use to test color and contrast for mobile designs is to follow best practices and guidelines from reputable sources and experts. Best practices and guidelines can help you avoid common pitfalls and mistakes, and adhere to industry standards and expectations. You can use resources like Material Design, iOS Human Interface Guidelines, or Fluent Design System to learn and test the color and contrast principles and patterns that Google, Apple, and Microsoft use for their mobile platforms. You can also use resources like A11y Project, WCAG, or WebAIM to learn and test the color and contrast requirements and recommendations for web accessibility and inclusivity.

6 Experiment and iterate

A sixth and final technique that you can use to test color and contrast for mobile designs is to experiment and iterate on your design solutions. Experimenting and iterating can help you discover new possibilities, refine your ideas, and optimize your outcomes. You can use tools like A/B Testing, Multivariate Testing, or Split Testing to test different versions of your design with different color and contrast combinations, and see which one performs better with your users. You can also use tools like InVision, Marvel, or Framer to create and test interactive prototypes of your design, and see how color and contrast affect the user flow, navigation, and interaction.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?