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--- name: color-principles description: Use when reviewing or designing a color palette for a UI, website, or app — seven principles for premium, calm, accessible color (palette size, muted tones, contrast, accent restraint, near-black/white, consistency, whitespace). --- # Premium Color Principles Seven principles for color that feels calm, premium, and accessible. Use them to review or design any digital interface — and reference them by number when giving feedback. **Triggers:** color, palette, UI design, visual hierarchy, contrast, muted tones, accent color, design feedback, color theory. ## The 7 principles ### 1. Reduce your palette The fewer colors you use, the more each one matters. - 3 colors maximum - Neutral grays as the base - One accent color — for CTAs only ### 2. Use muted tones more often If everything shouts, nothing stands out. - Avoid saturated colors for large areas - Muted tones read as premium and calm ### 3. Create intentional contrast Contrast tells users where to look first. - Minimum **4.5:1** for text (WCAG AA) - Target **7:1+** for premium (WCAG AAA) ### 4. Use accent colors sparingly Accent colors only work when they're rare. - One accent per view/screen - Reserve it for the primary action ### 5. Avoid pure black and pure white Tiny shifts create different feelings. - Use `#1a1a1a` or `#121212` instead of `#000` - Use `#FAFAF7` or `#F5F5F0` instead of `#FFF` ### 6. Keep color behavior consistent Users shouldn't have to relearn your colors. - One action = one color, always ### 7. Let whitespace support color Whitespace makes color intentional. - Don't crowd colors together ## Feedback format When reviewing a design, structure the response as: 1. **Assessment** — which principles it follows or violates 2. **Analysis** — specific feedback per principle 3. **Suggestions** — concrete hex recommendations 4. **Priority** — what to fix first > Pairs well with [kika-design-system](../kika-design-system) — these are the general review lens; that skill is one opinionated system built on them.