Design Philosophy

Visual design at Stonegate serves cognitive accessibility and inclusion first. Every color, contrast ratio, and interaction pattern is grounded in peer-reviewed research—not trends.

Core Principles

1. Scientifically Harmonious Colors

Our palette uses complementary and split-complementary hues validated by psychophysical research (Ou & Luo 2006, Szabó et al. 2009). The 180° separation between primary blue and secondary amber creates natural visual balance without fatigue, while accent teal adds split-complementary support.

Why it matters: Observer studies across 12 countries (Ou et al. 2018) confirm these hue relationships feel harmonious regardless of cultural background.

2. Accessibility by Default

• WCAG 2.2 AA+ contrast ratios across all themes, validated by automated regression tests
• OKLCH lightness gaps ≥ 0.2 ΔL between text hierarchies to reduce visual crowding
• Interaction states shift chroma, not lightness—preserving legibility while communicating affordance

3. Neurodiversity-Aware Design

High-contrast hierarchies and consistent interaction patterns reduce cognitive load for ADHD and autism spectrum users. Ample whitespace and clear visual boundaries support executive function challenges.

4. Keyboard & Screen Reader Accessibility

Every interface is fully keyboard-navigable with visible focus indicators and screen reader compliant with semantic HTML, ARIA landmarks, and descriptive labels. Skip links, breadcrumb navigation, and programmatic focus management ensure non-sighted users can navigate efficiently.

Why it matters: 8.1 million Americans have visual disabilities (CDC 2023). Keyboard-only navigation is essential for motor impairments and power users alike.

5. Reduced Eye Strain

Dark theme uses warm slate tones instead of pure grays and warmer blues (#3b82f6 vs. traditional #0066ff) to reduce circadian disruption and digital eye fatigue.

Transparency & Iteration

Every design decision is documented with research citations, tested with automated audits, and monitored for emerging issues. We believe inclusive design requires continuous learning—as new research emerges, we adapt.

Research Foundation

Our approach synthesizes peer-reviewed work from color science and human perception labs worldwide. Key studies include harmony prediction models (Ou & Luo 2006), cross-cultural validation (Ou et al. 2018), and color-deficiency perception research (Lundekvam & Green 2019). For a plain-language overview, see Harmony (color) on Wikipedia.

Bottom line: We build with science, test with rigor, and iterate with humility—because the communities we serve deserve nothing less.