OpenMRS Brand Color - Contrast Study


The historical OpenMRS brand colors (OpenMRS Logo Policy) pose significant usability concerns when using them on white or grey backgrounds as text.

The low color contrast ratio makes them undesirable to use for primary action buttons as most fail both AA and AAA Accessibility Guidelines.


WCAG Guidelines

"WCAG 2.0 level AA requires a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text. WCAG 2.1 requires a contrast ratio of at least 3:1 for graphics and user interface components (such as form input borders). WCAG Level AAA requires a contrast ratio of at least 7:1 for normal text and 4.5:1 for large text.

Large text is defined as 14 point (typically 18.66px) and bold or larger, or 18 point (typically 24px) or larger."



OpenMRS Brand Colors - Contrast Study


Summary

OpenMRS ColorColor-contrast acceptability based on white/light grey
Orange #F26522Epic fail
Teal #009384Fail
Violet: #5B57A6Pass
Gold: #EEA616Epic fail


OpenMRS Orange: #F26522



OpenMRS Teal #009384


OpenMRS Violet: #5B57A6


OpenMRS Gold: #EEA616




Colors elsewhere on the internet - Color Study 


Google search results blue Dec 2019:  #1a0dab


The darker link color was chosen over the lighter link color #2358C2

It is suspected the higher contrast may have been better

https://goodui.org/leaks/google-has-been-a-b-testing-link-colors-again-and-this-light-blue-didnt-pass/



Traditional web action blue #33aaff




Real Life Examples

Website footer with very faint grey background (#f5f5f7)


OpenMRS Brand Colors


Google links colors (in dark and lighter shade)


Apple links colors




Experimenting with better options


Shift Orange to: #CC2A00

Shifting orange darker and closer to red increase the contrast, while being able to still have higher contrast with dark colors making primary action links stand out better.