ColorADD

Lore & Background

ColorADD was developed by Miguel Neiva, a Portuguese graphic designer and professor at the University of Minho. The code is based on five base signs: two triangles (one angled upwards and the other angled downwards), one diagonal line, one solid square box and one empty square box representing black, white and the primary colors of the RYB color model: red, blue, and yellow. Colors derived from other colors have the symbols of the combined colors, creating derivative colors (orange, green, purple and brown) and dark or white tones. Metalized colors like silver or gold are shown with a left parenthesis on the symbols.

Since its creation, ColorADD has been applied in various services, mainly in Portugal: hospitals (patient wristbands, pill bottles and path lines), schools (Viarco coloring pencils and students' note books), transports (subway maps, traffic lights and parking lots), and accessibility (paint cans, groceries, postage services, energy monitoring). It was also recognised by Buenos Aires University and TEDx Porto. In September 2017, Mattel launched a colorblind-friendly version of Uno that utilizes ColorADD.

The system is copyrighted and not in the public domain. Usage must be licensed by the for-profit private company Miguel Neiva & Associados - design gráfico, Lda., with fees not public. There is a pro bono model only for schools and universities managed by the nonprofit NGO ColorADD.Social.

Reader's Guide

ColorADD represents a notable attempt to create a universal visual language for color identification, specifically designed for colorblind individuals. Its significance lies in its application across multiple real-world contexts in Portugal, including healthcare, education, transportation, and consumer goods. The system's recognition by institutions such as Buenos Aires University and its adoption by Mattel for a colorblind-friendly version of Uno in 2017 indicate some level of international reach.

However, the system has faced criticism. One major criticism is orientation dependency: some symbols can be confused if inverted, similar to how the Arabic numerals 6 and 9 are mirror images. For example, the symbols for red and blue both use the same triangle oriented in a different direction, and the symbols for green and orange are mirror images. Some uses have addressed this by adding a baseline to indicate the bottom, but this adds noise and can slow identification. Another criticism is that colors used as codes (e.g., on transport maps or waste bins) are often arbitrary, and using ColorADD symbols can add unnecessary indirection compared to more direct symbols like letters or numbers.

The Feelipa Color Code is another colour-identification system developed in Portugal for accessibility purposes, using simple geometric symbols but differing in visual language and design methodology. ColorADD's legacy is thus mixed: a pioneering accessibility tool with practical deployments, but also one with design limitations and proprietary licensing that may limit broader adoption.

Did You Know?

• ColorADD was developed by Portuguese graphic designer and professor at the University of Minho, Miguel Neiva.
• The code uses five base signs: two triangles, one diagonal line, one solid square box and one empty square box.
• ColorADD won the accessibility category of the 2013 Vodafone Foundation Mobile For Good Europe Awards.
• In September 2017, Mattel launched a colorblind-friendly version of Uno that utilizes ColorADD.