Colors Off the Chart” - What is Daltonism really and how does it affect work life?

Green light. Red graph. Yellow warning label. Colors are the language we use all the time - in communication, design, data analysis, interfaces and even warning signals. But what if some people don't see them the way most do?

Daltonism, often mistakenly perceived as a “minor visual defect,” actually affects the lives of millions of people around the world - not only privately, but professionally as well.

 What exactly is daltonism?

Daltonism is a colloquial term for various types of color vision disorders. Most commonly, it is a deficiency or absence of one of the three types of cones in the retina, responsible for the perception of red, green and blue colors.

In practice, this can mean:

• Protanopia - lack of red perception,

• Deuteranopia - lack of green perception,

• Tritanopia - a rarer disorder involving the color blue.

Daltonism most often has a genetic basis and is inherited recessively. Interestingly, it definitely affects men more often - it is estimated to occur in about 8% of men and 0.5% of women. Why? Because the gene responsible for the disorder is located on the X chromosome.

The most common myths about daltonism.

 “Daltonists see the world in gray.”

Not true - most of them see colors, but slightly differently than people with typical color vision. The differences are often in shades or contrasts.

 “It's just a driver's problem.”

Daltonism affects many aspects of life - from choosing clothes to interpreting data or designing products.

 “It's a rare condition.”

Not true. There are tens of millions of people in the world with various forms of daltonism.

Daltonism in the workplace - where are the challenges?

In the age of remote work, user interfaces and digital presentations, color plays a key role in communication. For people with daltonism, this can be an everyday barrier:

• Reports and charts - colors as the only markers for data series? Unreadable for many.

• Application and system interfaces - “red/green” buttons without text? Potentially confusing.

• Maps, diagrams, plans - poor legibility can lead to errors.

• Decision-making and safety processes - e.g., color-coded warning labels without additional labeling.

 What can companies do better?

1. design with accessibility in mind

Let's use not only colors, but also icons, textures, symbols, letter designations. For example: instead of just red for “error,” add an X icon or corresponding message.

2. testing products and materials

There are free tools such as Color Oracle, Coblis or Figma's daltonism simulation modes to see how materials look to people with color vision disorders.

3. training of teams

Awareness of perceptual diversity increases empathy and improves quality of work - especially in UX/UI, marketing, product and education teams.

4. talking to the team

Sometimes the simplest question - “is this clear to you?” - can open eyes and help avoid exclusion.

 What if you are the one with daltonism?

It's worth talking about. More and more companies (especially technology and creative ones) value perceptual diversity. People with daltonism often develop alternative ways of recognizing details - they better perceive contrasts, structures, spatial relationships.

It's not a limitation - it's a different point of view.

 Daltonism is part of neuro- and sensory diversity

Including people with color vision disorders is not just a matter of empathy - it's a strategic business decision. Inclusivity is simply better: more readable, more versatile, more error-proof.

 Summary

Daltonism is not an “individual's problem” - it's a challenge to the entire visual communication system, which too often relies solely on color. Education, empathy and responsible design can make the world more accessible - including to those who see it a little differently.

Maybe it's time to look at colors from a new perspective?