The Color Distribution Rule
too many colors = visual chaos (your brain can't prioritize)
Most dashboards use 6+ colors. Amateur hour.
Users scan. Eyes bounce. Nothing lands.
A tiny story
A product manager showed me her dashboard.
8 different chart colors.
I asked which metric mattered most.
She couldn't point to one.
That's color overload.
The real issue
Every metric gets bright treatment. Blue. Orange. Green. Purple. Red.
No dominance. No contrast. No rest.
Eye fatigue within 10 seconds.
What you need now
Use 60-30-10. 60% neutral (grays/whites). 30% brand color. 10% accent.
Make key metrics pop with accent color. Everything else stays neutral.
Limit accent use. One chart. One KPI. One call-to-action max.
Use white space aggressively. Empty space isn't wasted space.
Let one color own attention. Kill the rainbow.
Color restraint = professional polish.
Two spicy takes
Hot take 1: If you use more than 3 colors, you don't understand design.
Hot take 2: Gray backgrounds are for cowards. Use white.
3 actions this week
Convert 70% of your chart colors to gray.
Pick ONE accent color for your most important metric.
Delete at least two colors from your palette.
Instant professionalism.
Closing
When you limit color, you amplify meaning.
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