Accessible Performance Colors for Intermountain Health

Executive Summary

Intermountain Health’s original red and green performance palette was nearly impossible to interpret for users with color blindness. As the lead UX designer on this project, I delivered a research-driven, accessible color palette that met the needs of clinicians, executives, and patients across the organization. The new palette improved visual clarity, passed accessibility testing, and was adopted as the system-wide standard for data visualization and reporting.

Background

Performance metrics and patient outcomes at Intermountain Health were historically displayed using a red and green color palette. While this worked for many, a significant number of employees and patients—those with color vision deficiency—could not distinguish between critical data points. This led to confusion and misinterpretation of clinical information. At the executive level, there was also concern about consistency and the need to comply with WCAG accessibility standards.

My Role

I led the research, palette design, and accessibility validation for this project, presenting multiple color-blind-friendly options to the executive committee. Early on, I demonstrated that some proposed palettes still posed issues for users with color blindness, and I guided the group through each iteration, explaining the strengths and limitations of every option. Over the course of a week, I facilitated executive committee meetings and provided visual evidence from testing with clinicians and analysts. This collaborative review process ultimately led us to select the final four-color palette, which balanced accessibility, brand alignment, and practical needs across the organization.

Problem

Intermountain Health’s use of red and green to represent performance made it impossible for color-blind users to interpret key metrics. Simulations showed that critical trends appeared as nearly identical shades of gray, making clinical data less actionable and leading to potential safety issues. Early redesigns that focused solely on accessibility failed to address the importance of brand recognition, which meant further work was needed.

Research

To build a case for change, I ran usability tests with color-blind and fully sighted users using real platform screenshots and printouts. Using Figma and Adobe simulators, I showed executives how the red and green palette appeared to users with deuteranopia. Clinicians and data analysts shared stories of frequent confusion and missed trends. I compiled these findings into a report for leadership and began prototyping new color solutions.

Red-green palette as seen with deuteranopia — Simulated view: original red and green palette is unreadable for users with color blindness.

Design Process

Initial Concepts and Feedback

My first proposal adapted the brand’s blue and orange, but tests showed that having only two color ramps did not provide enough contrast for reporting needs. Executive review confirmed more options were required for real-world usage. I then iterated with the team, adding teal and yellow based on feedback from HR, marketing, and analytics users. Each color was tested for contrast, simulated for color blindness, and checked against WCAG guidelines.

Initial blue and orange palette — First updated palette (blue and orange) did not provide enough contrast for all metrics.

Usability Testing and Final Palette

Selecting the final palette required close collaboration with an executive committee. Over the course of a week, we reviewed multiple color-blind-friendly palettes together, considering feedback from clinicians, analysts, and marketing. Each version was tested for accessibility and practical use. After thoughtful discussion and several rounds of review, we reached consensus on a four-color solution. This palette balanced brand alignment, accessibility, and the needs of all users, marking the result of genuine teamwork across disciplines.

Multiple rounds of usability testing followed. Both color-blind and fully sighted users rated the four-color palette (blue, orange, teal, dark yellow) as clear, professional, and easy to use. Executives requested minor changes to the yellow shade for better visibility on printouts and digital displays. All proposed palettes were tested side-by-side for real usage scenarios, using simulated reports and dashboards.

Final approved color palette — Final approved performance color palette, tested for accessibility and brand alignment.

Palette accessibility test results — Adobe Color accessibility check shows strong differentiation between all palette colors.

Outcome and Impact

The executive leadership approved the final palette and announced a one-year rollout across the system. I collaborated with communications to produce a slide deck and summary for all teams. My visuals were used in training, and IT and marketing referenced my documentation for ongoing accessibility efforts.

Metric with new palette — Performance metric using the new palette: clear to all users.

Metric with palette and color blindness filter — Metric with color blindness filter: still readable and actionable.

Color confusion errors in report interpretation dropped to zero in tested teams
Accessibility review scores improved across all analytics products
Standardized palette adopted for future digital and print assets
Positive feedback from users, clinicians, and leadership across the organization

I received personal messages from color-blind staff and clinicians who, for the first time, could clearly read critical performance data.

Reflection

This project reinforced the importance of inclusive, evidence-based design and the power of user stories in persuading leadership. Through research, iteration, and collaboration across teams, we delivered a color system that made data accessible and actionable for everyone. The gratitude from end users remains a highlight of my work at Intermountain Health.