My client's dog chart had red and green status bars

He pointed at it and said 'so is this one good or bad?' because he couldn't tell them apart. What's a better way to show status without relying on color alone?

2 comments

2 Comments

brown.susan6d agoTop Commenter

Color blindness is pretty common, but is it a big deal here? The guy just asked a question. Maybe the chart could use clearer labels or symbols next to the bars. A simple checkmark or X would do the trick. It seems like an easy fix without making a huge fuss. Sometimes we overcomplicate these things.

troy_butler75d ago

Susan saying "maybe the chart could use clearer labels" is exactly right but it's not just an easy fix, it's a basic requirement. Relying only on color ALWAYS leaves people out. Symbols like checks or X's are a must, or even different patterns on the bars themselves. This isn't overcomplicating things, it's just making things work for everyone. The client literally could not use the chart, that's a failed design. Good design solves the problem before the user has to ask.