farbblindsichere

Farbblindsichere is a term used in German-language accessibility discourse to describe design practices that make information usable for people with color vision deficiencies. It is a descriptive neologism rather than a formal standard, but it aligns with broader accessibility principles that aim to reduce reliance on color alone for conveying meaning.

The core idea of farbblindsichere design is to provide redundant cues so that important information remains distinguishable even if color cannot be perceived. This includes using high contrast between foreground and background, employing patterns or textures in addition to color, and pairing color cues with text labels, icons, shapes, or other non-color indicators. It also involves choosing color palettes that remain distinguishable for common forms of color blindness, such as protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia.

Applications span digital interfaces, printed materials, signage, and data visualizations. In user interfaces, farbblindsichere design avoids conveying status or instructions by color alone and uses explicit text or symbols. In graphs and charts, color is supplemented with patterns, line styles, or annotations. In signage and safety-critical contexts, multiple cues (text, symbols, and color) are used to ensure comprehension even for individuals with color vision differences.

Evaluation methods include color-vision deficiency simulations, contrast ratio checks, and user testing with participants who have color blindness. Tools such as color-vision simulators and contrast analyzers help verify that information remains accessible. While not a formal standard, farbblindsichere practices are widely encouraged within accessibility guidelines to improve inclusivity for a broader audience.