Color Contrast

Term from Accessibility Consulting industry explained for recruiters

Color contrast refers to how easily distinguishable different colors are from each other on websites, apps, or printed materials. It's particularly important for making sure text is readable against its background. Accessibility professionals check and adjust color contrast to ensure that everyone, including people with visual impairments or color blindness, can read and understand content. This is a fundamental part of making digital products accessible and compliant with accessibility laws and guidelines like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Examples in Resumes

Conducted Color Contrast audits for Fortune 500 company websites to ensure ADA compliance

Improved Color Contrast Ratio across mobile applications to meet WCAG 2.1 standards

Developed Color Contrast guidelines and training materials for design team

Typical job title: "Accessibility Specialists"

Also try searching for:

Accessibility Consultant Digital Accessibility Specialist UX Designer Web Accessibility Expert Accessibility Analyst WCAG Specialist UI/UX Accessibility Designer

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you implement a color contrast strategy across a large organization?

Expected Answer: A senior specialist should discuss creating organization-wide guidelines, training programs, automated testing tools, and processes for maintaining standards across different teams and projects. They should mention stakeholder communication and change management strategies.

Q: How do you handle conflicts between brand colors and accessibility requirements?

Expected Answer: Should explain approaches to balancing brand identity with accessibility needs, including strategies for adjusting colors while maintaining brand recognition, and how to present alternatives to stakeholders with business justification.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What tools do you use to test color contrast, and how do you interpret the results?

Expected Answer: Should be able to name specific testing tools and explain how to use them to check contrast ratios, understand WCAG requirements, and make recommendations for improvements.

Q: How do you explain color contrast requirements to designers who aren't familiar with accessibility?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate ability to communicate technical requirements in simple terms, provide visual examples, and explain the importance of contrast for user experience.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What are the minimum contrast requirements for WCAG compliance?

Expected Answer: Should know the basic requirements: 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text, and understand when these requirements apply.

Q: Why is color contrast important for accessibility?

Expected Answer: Should explain how proper contrast helps users with visual impairments read content, and mention that it benefits all users in different lighting conditions.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic understanding of WCAG contrast requirements
  • Use of contrast checking tools
  • Basic accessibility testing
  • Report writing

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Advanced contrast analysis
  • Design system implementation
  • Stakeholder communication
  • Accessibility audit leadership

Senior (5+ years)

  • Enterprise-level accessibility strategy
  • Team training and mentoring
  • Policy development
  • Complex project management

Red Flags to Watch For

  • No knowledge of WCAG guidelines
  • Unfamiliar with accessibility testing tools
  • Lack of understanding about different types of color vision deficiencies
  • No experience with accessibility compliance requirements