Introduction: Who I Am and What I’m Building
Hi, my name is Deep Dhimal. I’m a freshman at DCTS and just starting web design for class. I’m new to HTML and CSS. I’m also trying JavaScript a little. People think coding is just making stuff and scripts. But bad colors make the whole site look mushy and bad. People leave quick. I’m doing coding for school. I want landing pages that help people find things easy. Not confuse them. My goal is clean websites. Ones that feel nice. Like a pro spot to land on any project.
Why Your Website Looks Like a Traffic Light Disaster (And How to Fix It)
If you’ve ever thrown colors together at 3am because they “felt right” and woke up to a site that looks like its glitching, this is for you. Websites and game UIs don’t have to blind people or make them bounce.
Who This is For (Artists Like Me)
Artists in web design who want to make stuff pretty but end up confusing everybody including themselves. I’m the guy doing personal games and school projects. My first designs? Absolute trash.
That Nail Salon Assignment That Fixed My Brain
My Teacher Said to “make a fake nail salon website from scratch.” My brain defaults to red/green. Then I’m like wait is that haunted nails or Christmas catalog trash. Nail salon needs cute energy not danger signals.
Switched to pink, red, purple. Site instantly popped. Went from “run away” to “yo I want a manicure here.” One color swap changed everything.
Before/after nail salon style: left’s the red/green mess you’d regret, right’s pink/red/purple actually working.
Where I See Colors Go Wrong Most
Game UIs and websites. Story game with menus like candy puke. “Professional” site using slime video colors. People get confused, eyes hurt, gone.
Game UI nightmare: rainbow buttons fighting dark horror art. Can’t even find play button.
My Actual Rule: Don’t Use Colors Cuz You Like Em
Never pick colors just because neon green is your favorite. Nail site doesn’t need aggression. Match the site type, mood (cute/scary/chill), who’s using it. Wrong colors = group project where nobody talked.
Why Red/Green Messes People Up
Red = danger/error. Green = good/success. Wrong combo = brain freeze “am I dead or winning?” Colorblind people straight up can’t tell them apart. Don’t make important stuff a color guessing game.
How I Pick Colors Now (No Art School Needed)
Websites: what’s it for (salon/portfolio)? Mood next (fun/calm)? Main color + 1-2 friends that don’t clash.
Games: theme first (horror/cute)? UI loud or chill? Match art style but readable buttons matter more than looking cool.
Tools That Actually Save Me
Contrast checker so text doesn’t vanish into backgrounds. Palette generators so colors aren’t random enemies. Boring? Yes. Effective? 100%.
Real Tools I Use (Go Use it)
WebAIM Contrast Checker – https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/ (saved my salon text)
Contrast Ratio – https://contrast-ratio.com/ (big pass/fail numbers)
Coolors – https://coolors.co/ (lock pink/red/purple, generate palettes)
Adobe Color – https://color.adobe.com/ (vibe-based schemes, free)
Paletton – http://paletton.com/ (colorblind preview)
Color confusion article – https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/using-color-to-confuse-and-to-prevent-unwanted-actions
Smashing Mag colors – https://www.smashingmagazine.com/category/color/
Real nail salon killing it with similar pink/red/purple. See? Smart choice.
Checklist Before You Post
- Fits the site/game type?
- Text readable without squinting?
- Red/green not your only good/bad signal?
- One mood or color war?
- Buttons obvious?
More than 2 “uhhhs” = fix time.
Recipe When You’re Stuck
- One mood word (fun/calm/scary).
- Main color for it.
- Neutral bg (off-white/gray).
- Accent for buttons.
- Contrast check everything.
- Does important stuff pop first?
Fix Your Color Mess Quick
- Delete 1-2 colors. Better? They sucked.
- Neutral background lets main color breathe.
- Errors need icons/text too, not color only.
- Wrong vibe? Swap to match (no pink horror UI).
Your Turn
Pick one of your sites/games. Run checklist/recipe. Swap one color for clarity not prettiness. Drop your worst color fail story or before/after below. Traffic light designs end today.