My brother couldn't tell if his car's check engine light was on because of the red/green dashboard | Colorblind Friendly Design - The Design Community Hub
My brother couldn't tell if his car's check engine light was on because of the red/green dashboard
He called me panicking last Tuesday because his car felt weird, but the dash looked normal to him. I had to go over and check, and sure enough, the light was on. He's red-green colorblind and said the warning light just blends into the other dash lights for him. It made me realize how many everyday designs, even in something as important as a car, aren't tested for this. Has anyone found a good way to modify or add a clear indicator for stuff like this?
Totally get this, my uncle has the same issue. He put a little piece of blue tape next to his check engine light so he can see if the shape is blocked.
Wow, that's actually brilliant. I always thought those lights were fine as they are, but that tape trick makes so much sense. It's a simple fix for a real problem. My whole view on dashboard design just shifted. They should really build something like that in from the start.
Seriously, the blue tape trick is GENIUS. It's wild that in 2024 we're still using colored lights for critical warnings. You'd think car makers would have figured out a universal symbol or, I don't know, a little beep? My friend's dad just drives until the car starts making a new noise, which is a terrifying strategy.