Colorblindness & Pixie Journey
Designed for everyone. Learn how our accessible themes support color vision deficiency.
Why Accessibility Matters
Approximately 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women experience some form of color vision deficiency (colorblindness). At Pixie Journey, we believe beautiful tracking apps should be accessible to everyone—which is why we've designed our Earth Coral mood palette with color vision deficiency in mind.
Color alone should never be the only way to convey information. That's why we combine our carefully chosen hues with text labels, patterns, and clear visual hierarchy to ensure everyone can use Pixie Journey effectively.
Understanding Color Vision Deficiency
There are actually three main types of color vision deficiency, plus variations in severity. Each affects how people perceive certain color combinations:
Protanopia
Red-blind
Difficulty distinguishing red from green and brown.
0.01% of females
People with protanopia see reds, oranges, yellows, and browns as shades of yellow or brown. Greens appear as white or light colors.
Deuteranopia
Green-blind
Difficulty distinguishing green from red, brown, and yellow.
0.01% of females
The most common form of red-green colorblindness. Greens appear as shades of yellow or red, creating similar challenges to protanopia.
Tritanopia
Blue-yellow blind
Difficulty distinguishing blue from yellow.
The rarest form. People with tritanopia see blue as pink/red and yellow as pale pink or white.
Quick Facts
- Total prevalence: ~1 in 8 people have some form of color vision deficiency
- Males vs. females: Red-green colorblindness affects men ~16x more often than women (genetic inheritance)
- Severity varies: Some people have mild difficulty; others have complete color blindness (achromatopsia)
- Age-related: Color vision can also diminish with age or as a side effect of certain medications
How Different Types See Color
Below is a simplified guide to how each type of color vision deficiency affects color perception:
| Color Type | Protanopia (Red-blind) | Deuteranopia (Green-blind) | Tritanopia (Blue-yellow) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | Dull yellow or brown | Dull yellow or brown | Red or pink |
| Green | White or light yellow | Yellow or orange-red | Green |
| Blue | Blue | Blue | Pink or red |
| Yellow | Yellow | Yellow | White or pale pink |
| Purple | Blue | Blue | Red or pink |
Pixie Journey's Color System
Our design uses a carefully tested Earth Coral palette with organized color tiers to maximize accessibility across all types of color vision:
Earth Coral
5 distinct mood states: Great (yellow), Good (sage), Okay (peach), Low (taupe), Bad (salmon). Each has sufficient luminance contrast for deuteranopia and protanopia users.
Extended Palette
Use-case specific colors: Sky Mist (info/secondary), Dusty Sage (success/progress), Warm Sand (highlights/hover). All tested against CVD simulations.
- Distinct luminance values: Each mood (Great, Good, Okay, Low, Bad) has tested contrast ratios
- Hue variety: Uses yellow (Great), sage (Good), peach (Okay), taupe (Low), salmon (Bad) for multiple hue channels
- Text labels: All color states are labeled—never relying on color alone
- Tested palettes: Extended tier system (Sky Mist, Dusty Sage, Warm Sand, etc.) for UI components
- CVD simulation: All colors validated against protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia simulations
How We Test for Accessibility
Pixie Journey's colors were tested using industry-standard tools to ensure usability across all types of color vision deficiency. We use simulation software to view our interface through the eyes of someone with each CVD type.
Tools We Use:
- Coblis (Color Blindness Simulator): Simulates how our interface appears to people with protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia
- WebAIM Contrast Checker: Ensures text meets WCAG AA or AAA standards
- Lighthouse Accessibility Audit: Checks for color-contrast and semantic HTML issues
- User Testing: We collaborate with colorblind users in our product development process
Learn More
Want to dive deeper? Here are some excellent resources:
- Color-Blindness.com: Comprehensive guide to color vision deficiency with simulations
- American Optometric Association: Medical overview of color vision deficiency
- WebAIM Contrast & Color Accessibility: Technical guidelines for accessible color use
- Pixie Journey FAQ: Accessibility questions answered
Use Pixie Journey with Confidence
Our core mission is to help everyone track their mood and habits beautifully. Whether you have perfect color vision or color vision deficiency, Pixie Journey is built for you.