Why Light and Sleek Doesn’t Work For Me
Lots of people like their web and general computer interfaces to look light (in both a literal and metaphorical sense). This is good User Interface design, for most users, but like with anything else in life, people are different and have different wants and needs.
Personally, I feel less eye strain and get better contrast from light text and graphics on a dark background. This was once just the way things were, in the time of monochrome computer monitors, it became “high-contrast mode” with modern GUIs, and is now known as “dark mode.”
Dark Mode is A Mainstream Accessibility Feature
This progressively ubiquitous dark mode is a welcome customization feature for sighted users, but also a necessary accessibility feature for low vision users.
Having become mainstream, dark mode frees visually impaired users from any stigma attached to how they use their devices — they’re not using niche features, they’re just really cool. The reader may now wish to put on a pair of sunglasses, whether they need them to shield their sensitive eyes from the sun, or they’re about to don their leather jacket and get on their chopper motorcycle.
What’s This About D&D Beyond, Then?
A previous post about D&D Beyond explained its usefulness for visually impaired Dungeons & Dragons players, but also pointed out a few accessibility issues that made it less than easy to use.
Whether the team read that post or had the feature in the works for a long time, the character sheet now supports Underdark Mode — a cool mainstream feature, with an even cooler name.
So Now What?
Now, the author of this post will continue to use D&D Beyond to role-play a rogue who will perform sneak attacks with advantage, dealing massive amounts of damage, now enjoying a much more comfortable User Interface.
Web developers and other designers, on the other hand, should continue to create accessible-by-default interfaces and embrace the variety in their users’ preferences. Everybody likes options.
The D&D Beyond team, in particular, should continue improving their product, allowing them to reach
An accessible interface isn’t supposed to be ugly — a beautiful interface is supposed to be accessible.
Everyone-Games 