A couple of months ago, we received an email from one of our users that really stuck with me. They sent us a beautifully colored landscape drawing - a bridge arching over a river, surrounded by vibrant flowers and a fisherman trying to catch the last fish before nightfall. Everything was there: pretty red flowers, soft white clouds, subtle shading, and highlights. But something was off. It was the sunset - that was green green. Or, in their exact words, “vomit green.”
Understanding colorblindness
The user who wrote to us is colorblind, which means they struggle to distinguish certain shades. Colorblindness comes in many forms, the most common being difficulty telling reds and greens apart. It affects around 6–8% of people, mostly men, and can sometimes take years to diagnose. I’m not an expert in colorblindness, but from what I’ve learned, it touches many small moments in everyday life - from where you draw a dog in pink to arguing with a friend about the color of their pants. And many awkward moments in between. One person even told me they never shop online unless the exact color is clearly stated.
Why color matters
Because color is more than just visual – it’s also cultural and emotional. Imagine showing up to a soccer match wearing a red shirt, surrounded by fans all dressed in green. You’d definitely stand out, and maybe not in a good way. For users with colorblindness, small design decisions can affect how they experience and enjoy content. Ensuring that colors are distinguishable is more than accessibility - it’s inclusivity.
Introducing our colorblind accessibility feature
In our coloring app Lake, we implemented a simple but meaningful feature for colorblind users: labeling every color in the app. Now, everyone can see exactly which color they’re using, making coloring more inclusive and accessible. Just because you can’t distinguish certain shades doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy coloring or feel proud of your creations.
The colorblind accessibility feature can be easily activated in the settings, ensuring that everyone can fully enjoy our coloring app - whether you’re experimenting with shades, creating landscapes, or just relaxing with your favorite coloring pages.
