Color palette reference
A rainbow palette needs a role system more than another color. Decide which colors are accents, statuses, categories, or decoration so the full range remains legible.
Use a neutral foundation and limit simultaneous accents in any one component. For data, keep category order and lightness deliberate so the visual encoding is not arbitrary.
Adjacent hues can be indistinguishable for some users. Add labels, patterns, or icons to important states and test the palette with color-vision simulations.
Use the visualize color roles to turn this family into an interface-ready system, or read wcag contrast for designers for the implementation decisions behind the visual output.
Editorial reviewed 2026-07-06.