palettefocused

Palettefocused refers to a design philosophy in which color palette management is central to the creative process. It advocates creating a cohesive, reusable set of colors that informs branding, UI, and media across platforms.

The term appears in design discussions as a way to describe a disciplined approach to color rather than a formal standard, product, or library. It highlights consistency and intentionality in color choices.

Core principles include identifying a target palette with defined roles (primary, secondary, accents, neutrals); deriving accessible variants (tints and shades) for different surfaces; establishing usage rules and naming conventions; and maintaining documentation in a design system.

Process and tools involve auditing existing colors, composing the base palette, generating variants, and implementing them through design tokens or CSS variables. Designers use palettefocused workflows to ensure color decisions scale to interfaces, graphics, and brand assets.

Benefits include visual cohesion, faster decision making, and improved accessibility when properly managed. Potential drawbacks include overemphasis on color at the expense of layout or typography, and the need for ongoing governance to keep palettes current.

See also: color theory, design tokens, theming, accessibility.