Designing with Color Blindness in Mind

Color plays a huge role in packaging design — it catches the eye, communicates brand identity, and helps customers make quick choices. But for the estimated 300 million people with colorblindness, certain color combinations can be hard to distinguish. Ignoring this can lead to confusion, missed messaging, and even difficulty identifying your product on the shelf.

When we design packaging, especially packaging that will be a marketing element for products, we think about the following considerations:

• Contrast is king – Ensure strong light/dark contrast in addition to hue differences so information remains clear.

• Avoid tricky color pairs – Red/green and blue/purple can be especially hard for those with color vision limitations.

• Use patterns and textures – Reinforce information with visual cues beyond color.

• Incorporate symbols or icons – Simple shapes or graphics can make your packaging instantly recognizable.

• Test your designs – Use digital tools or real-user feedback to see how your packaging reads to those with color blindness.

Designing inclusively doesn’t just make your packaging accessible — it strengthens your brand by ensuring everyone can connect with it.

Learn more about colorblindness here: https://www.colourblindawareness.org/colour-blindness/