ContrastIntent [provocation] v1.0.0

Label

What Does Low Contrast Communicate?

Meta

• License: Apache-2.0
• License Provenance: package-authorship-claim

Trigger

agent selects a muted or low-contrast text color for secondary information

Question

This text color achieves {actual_ratio}:1 contrast. Before accepting it, ask: is the low contrast a conscious hierarchy signal ('this content is secondary and less important') or is it unexamined aesthetic habit? If the content is secondary, is there a better way to signal hierarchy — different weight, size, position — that doesn't also harm legibility for users with low vision?

Intent

Distinguish deliberate typographic hierarchy from accidental accessibility failure. Low contrast can be a valid tool when used consciously for de-emphasizing truly secondary content — but it must still meet the 4.5:1 AA threshold for small text. The question surfaces whether the designer has made a conscious choice.

Resolution Paths

• • Context: Placeholder text, helper text, captions
  • Answer: Still must meet 4.5:1. Use lighter weight or smaller size instead of lower contrast if de-emphasis is desired.
• • Context: Decorative / aria-hidden text
  • Answer: Exempt from contrast requirements — but confirm the element is genuinely decorative with no informational role.
• • Context: Active/inactive state contrast
  • Answer: Inactive state may use 3:1 (UI component rule) but this should be explicit design intent, not default color inheritance.

ContrastIntent [provocation] v1.0.0

Label

What Does Low Contrast Communicate?

Meta

• License: Apache-2.0
• License Provenance: package-authorship-claim

Trigger

agent selects a muted or low-contrast text color for secondary information

Question

This text color achieves {actual_ratio}:1 contrast. Before accepting it, ask: is the low contrast a conscious hierarchy signal ('this content is secondary and less important') or is it unexamined aesthetic habit? If the content is secondary, is there a better way to signal hierarchy — different weight, size, position — that doesn't also harm legibility for users with low vision?

Intent

Distinguish deliberate typographic hierarchy from accidental accessibility failure. Low contrast can be a valid tool when used consciously for de-emphasizing truly secondary content — but it must still meet the 4.5:1 AA threshold for small text. The question surfaces whether the designer has made a conscious choice.

Resolution Paths

• • Context: Placeholder text, helper text, captions
  • Answer: Still must meet 4.5:1. Use lighter weight or smaller size instead of lower contrast if de-emphasis is desired.
• • Context: Decorative / aria-hidden text
  • Answer: Exempt from contrast requirements — but confirm the element is genuinely decorative with no informational role.
• • Context: Active/inactive state contrast
  • Answer: Inactive state may use 3:1 (UI component rule) but this should be explicit design intent, not default color inheritance.

Relations

related: [@w3c/fact-wcag-contrast-aa, @community/metric-contrast-ratio, @community/check-contrast-aa, @impeccable/voice-critical-mentor]