A Guide To UI Color Palettes

UI color palettes are a vital part of interface design, impacting look and usability. They can help with brand identity and functionality and even evoke emotions. In this blog post, we’ll explain how to effectively choose and use UI color palettes if you are a UI, UX, or product designer. We’ll also discuss standard practices for naming color palettes and show you how to document them in Figma. Let’s dive in!

Have you ever been fascinated by the UI color palettes of specific interfaces without knowing why? Or why some interfaces are more visually appealing and memorable than others?

Color is an essential component of user interface design. It can help establish a strong visual hierarchy by guiding the user’s attention, setting the product’s overall tone, conveying emotions, and so much more.

As designers, we need to understand the power of colors and learn how to use that power to create visually appealing designs and effectively communicate messages. However, choosing the right colors for your UI color palettes and documenting them correctly can be challenging.

In this blog, we’ll explore the conventions for naming UI color palettes and how to document them in Figma, so keep reading!

UI color palettes are a combination of colors used in designs. Using them correctly will form the visual foundation for the brand and help achieve consistency throughout the design. Plus, they make the interface look aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable for users to use.

Here’s a little fun fact: Did you know that in the ’90s, most UI color palettes only included eight colors? Nowadays, we have an endless array of shades and hues to choose from!

Color harmonies

Working with the right UI color palettes is crucial, as they significantly impact a design’s overall look, user experience, and product success.

Selecting the right primary color is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it affects how the brand is perceived. Also, consistently using the same primary color throughout the design can help users easily identify interactive elements and navigate the interface. 

New designers often make the mistake of using multiple colors for interactivity or employing an interactive hue for non-interactive elements.

On the other hand, designers use accent colors to complement and enhance primary colors, making elements stand out and drawing attention to important features such as promoted buttons or links. 

Some interfaces opt not to use accent colors due to reasons like simplicity, branding, accessibility requirements, or simply because they are not essential. However, accent colors can add visual interest and emphasis to a design when used appropriately.

Using semantic colors in UI design is extremely important because they help convey different meanings or states, like error, info, warning, or success. 

Using status colors ensures that users understand what’s happening on the screen without any confusion. These colors can also help create a brand identity that reflects the brand’s values and message.

A good example is social media messaging apps; colors are used to show the status of a message. For instance, a blue color might mean that a message has been read, while a gray color might indicate that it’s still unread.

However, it’s crucial not to rely on color alone. You need to include other signals to ensure the designs are accessible. We can achieve this by using icons, text, patterns, contrast, and more. So, let’s make sure our designs are both attractive and user-friendly!

Examples of how not to use and how to effectively use primary, secondary, and semantic colors in UI Design

UI color palettes benefit from having more tints and shades for many reasons, some of which are:

It’s worth remembering that incorporating more tints and shades into your UI color palettes can make the design more engaging, user-friendly, and visually appealing, all while staying true to your brand’s style!

Example of color shades in UI 

Have you ever seen UI color palettes where colors are named “light yellow” or “dark green”? While these names provide a general description, they lack precision, particularly in UI design.

When it comes to naming colors, it’s important to assign them based on their purpose, such as calling a particular shade “accent yellow.” Our naming conventions should align with the brand but not be restricted to the names in a brand style guide.

This brings us to two approaches:

If you’re considering using or adding a dark mode, contextual naming might be more appropriate, while semantic naming is the most common choice for designers in Figma.

When it comes to semantic naming, a common addition is using numbers next to a name to explain how light or dark this particular shade is. Think of it as weighted semantic naming. You go from 50 to 900 or from 10 to 90. 500 or 50 is usually the middle shade, representing the base color for UI color palettes. But naming conventions alone are not enough. 

We also need to document the colors in a way that’s easy to understand and accessible to everyone on the team. That’s where Figma comes in. Figma is a design tool that allows us to create and share design files, including color palettes and documentation.

Example how to name colors, and how to create color tokens

So, how do you document colors in Figma? First, you create a UI color palette page to organize and display all your UI colors. Then, you most often create rectangles and fill them with the colors from the palette. 

You can also add the color name, hex code, and any notes about the usage of each color. Doing this will create a comprehensive reference guide that’s easy to use for any designer or developer who works on the project.

When you document your colors, you create consistency across all your designs. 

Remember that consistency is the key to UI design. Users who see the same colors and visual elements across different parts of the UI feel more comfortable and confident using the app or website. This also makes it easier for designers and developers to work together seamlessly, reducing errors and misunderstandings.

A snapshot showcasing how our team organizes and documents colors in Figma for client projects

There are many ways to create UI color palettes, each with pros and cons.

Let’s start with getting inspired by nature. Artists have been drawing inspiration from nature for centuries. There’s a reason why! Nature offers such a vast array of beautiful and harmonious color combinations, so there’s little work to do to create a color palette.

Another approach to grabbing inspiration for UI color palettes is using a color picker tool. You can do so by Googling images that convey the right emotions and attributes for the brand you’re designing for. 

If you’re a beginner, this approach might be good for you. It involves looking at what others are doing and putting your own spin on it. There’s no shame in borrowing inspiration from other designers, but remember not to just copy the design blindly

If you are eager to learn more about UI color palettes and how to use color effectively in your designs, be sure to check out our Ultimate UI Colors Masterclass. 

Packed with advanced tips and tricks, this course will elevate your design skills, enhance the quality of your work, and push your career as an indispensable UI/UX or product designer. Let The Ultimate UI Colors Masterclass exceed your expectations of online design education.

Example of creating a color palette from an image moodboard

Designing beautiful UI color palettes often starts with getting inspired by nature and other well-designed sources. This helps create a balanced and pleasing look. 

Let’s remember that it is also important to give names to the colors and keep track of them to ensure everyone on the design team is on the same page. By staying inspired by nature and keeping everything organized, you, as a designer, can create user-friendly interfaces that look great and represent the brand.

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