We often talk about the importance of accessibility and of inclusion on the Web. In the early days of the internet, the World Wide Web Consortium, the international non-governmental organization founded in 1994, was already interested in spreading the culture of web accessibility, with the aim of encouraging the development of the Web. In the contemporary context of technological transformation, it is essential to highlight the issue ofaccessibility and we would like to focus on a particular aspect of it: colour.
TALK ABOUT COLOR
it means tackling a very complex topic. In nature, there are colors derived from the breakdown of light: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple on which all the variations that we can observe around us are modulated. By then adding achromatic colors such as white and black, we can obtain many different shades. The color palettes are infinite because beyond the hue, the color is composed of the characteristic brightness and saturation that represent the dimensions of the color.
COLORS INFLUENCE OUR PRIVATE SPACES
acting directly on our emotions, colors have a great influence: they attract attention, alter the perception of space, describe sensations, create atmospheres. Year after year, colors influence our spaces, evoking emotions and sensations. In 2024, for example, there will be traditional colors and particular nuances such as olive green (Ironside) which will give a sense of calm and nature, terracotta (Persimmon) very warm and energetic. The butter color (Limitless) welcoming and bright. The black or rather the Cracked pepper, minimalist and modern. The deep blue (Bay blue) energetic and fresh. Raspberry red (Raspberry blush) lively and brilliant. While according to AkzoNobel, the brand of paint systems for construction, the color of 2024 will be mineral pink. Last December 7, the American company Pantone, which mainly deals with graphics technologies, presented the color of the year 2024: Pantone Peach Fuzz 13-1023 a delicate peach shade.
COLOR IN WEB DESIGN
color is an important resource in different design sectors such as in the design of web content, where it improves the user friendly. Adobe is one of the companies that, for example, makes available to instruments which can help web designers choose the best contrast between text and background color. We must take into account that there are many people who have difficulty perceiving color, not only people with partial vision but also elderly people. According to the guidelines WCAG To facilitate these users, it is necessary to always match the color with a symbol or number.
THE EUROPEAN ACCESSIBILITY LAW
In 2022, only 3.2% of websites respected the readability, operability and understandability criteria introduced by the WCAG. In 2022 the European Commission approved the European Accessibility Act, that is to say the European law on accessibility, which aims to provide the regulatory tools for a more inclusive society. This means that from June 2025 all websites and software will have to respond to certain accessibility criteria to ensure a more flexible experience for web users.