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$ kolinn log --read nord-palette-refresh

Nord palette refresh: key text colors checked for AA

announcement 1 min read

  • #color
  • #accessibility
  • #tokens

The color layer of the KOLINN Design System had its key foreground and status roles checked against canvas and raised surfaces in both themes. A few primitives were adjusted where small text missed the 4.5:1 WCAG AA contrast threshold.

What changed

  • --kds-accent-subtitle now resolves to frost-0 (#356c6a in light mode), measuring 4.92:1 on raised surfaces (previously 4.04:1).
  • Action hover/active states were pushed one primitive darker in light mode, keeping the pressed feedback visible without touching hue.
  • Light success text and dark error text were adjusted to meet 4.5:1 on both canvas and raised surfaces.
/* tokens/semantic.css — roles never hardcode hex values */
:root {
  --kds-accent-subtitle: var(--kds-frost-0);
  --kds-action-primary: var(--kds-frost-1);
  --kds-status-success: var(--kds-aurora-green);
}

Why it matters

Because components only ever consume semantic roles, this refresh shipped without a single component change. That is the token-first promise in practice: primitives move, roles hold, the UI follows.

If you maintain a fork, re-run the contrast matrix before merging — the theming guide walks through the checklist.

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