Using Colors Accessibly

How to apply our brand colors correctly to meet accessibility guidelines.

Why Does Color Contrast Matter?

Digital accessibility is all about removing barriers for users. One of the most critical aspects is color contrast: the difference in brightness between text and its background. Insufficient contrast can make text difficult or even impossible to read, especially for people with visual impairments.

By ensuring adequate contrast, we make our content more readable and user-friendly for everyone. The university follows the internationally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to achieve this.

Our Color Palette: Designed for Accessibility

The colors within the university's brand identity have been tested for accessibility. When you use the predefined color combinations, your design will automatically meet the required contrast standards.

Our palette is structured with primary colors and secondary colors. The rules for their application are simple and guarantee proper contrast.

Rules of Thumb for Correct Color Use:

Primary Colors
These colors are intended for use as text colors or for graphic elements. Always use a primary color on a light background, such as white or one of our secondary colors.

Secondary Colors
These colors are intended for use as background colors. Always use a secondary color in combination with a primary color or University Blue as the text color.

In short: Always use light-colored text on a primary color background—never dark blue or black. Conversely, always use dark-colored text on a secondary color background—never white.

Practical Guidelines for Accessible Color Use

When creating presentations, documents, web pages, or social media posts, keep the following practical tips in mind:

• Stick to the approved combinations. Adhere to the color combinations specified in the brand portal. This is the surest way to guarantee your content meets contrast standards.
• Use color to support information, not to convey it alone. For example, don't just color-code important words; make them bold as well to ensure the emphasis is clear to everyone.
• Don't create new color combinations. There is a high risk that custom pairings will not meet the required contrast ratio, making your content inaccessible.