The Seville Palette: Accessible Data Visualization
Inspired by the vibrant colors of Seville, this categorical palette is designed for accessible contrast.
Bar plot
Scatter plot
Box plot
Sparkline
The core of the palette is composed of three colors
And it's complemented by a grayscale.
Connections represent pairs with passable contrast (WCAG AA), revealing how these distinct hues can work together in harmony.
Contrast Matrix
A practical reference for accessibility. Values show WCAG contrast ratios; bold (✓) indicates AA compliance (≥ 4.5).
Color Blindness Simulation
How does this palette appear to people with different types of color vision deficiency?
Normal Vision
~92% of population
Deuteranopia
~6% of males | Green-blind
Protanopia
~1% of males | Red-blind
Tritanopia
~0.01% of population | Blue-blind
The Inspiration
This project came to be while visiting Andalusia with my family in December 2025. While touring the city of Seville and many towns in Andalusia, I learned about how many of the colors used reflect the rich history of the area.
These colors include
-
Albero: Coming from sediments of the Guadalquivir river. This specific
shade is actually based on the Pantone "Flor de Sevilla", a
brighter interpretation of the traditional Albero developed in
collaboration with Tanqueray.
- Almegre: The word comes from Andalusian Arabic al-máḡra, which originates from Arabic al-maḡra (الْمَغْرَة), meaning "red clay or earth".
- Lapis lazuli: The blue of the palette, it reflects the valuable blue lapis lazuli imported by the Arabs, and the blue used in the many ceramics that decorate Andalusia. It also represents the clear skies usually present in Seville.
- Triana green: A deep green that reflects the green on the flag of Andalusia, and the green associated with the "Esperanza de Triana". It also symbolizes the lush green of the many trees that inhabit the city. Note: This is an optional color in the palette, recommended as a replacement for Almegre (Red) when red-green color blindness accessibility is a priority.
The inspiration behind these colors is a mix of the beautiful history of the area, which speaks about the mixing and coexistence of cultures through the ages.
This idea also came to be thanks to the realization that these colors formed a very pleasant and accessible palette. With muted natural saturations and choices that can be accessible for color-blind audiences.
- To finish the core of the palette, I added 2026's Pantone's color of the year: "Cloud Dancer" (Hex: #F0EEE9). A soft white that invokes peace and tranquility. Making it a perfect fit for a palette inspired by the coexistence of cultures in such a rich region.
To build a sequential palette using these colors, you can use the Chroma.js Color Palette Helper.
These photographs from my trip to Seville captured the textures, light, and spirit that inspired this palette.
Oranges tree on white background
Wall paint and sky
Panorama Plaza España
Blue and yellow tiles on red floor
White and blue ceramic decorations on columns
Plaza España lake with boats
Cordoba cathedral interior
Little street Cordoba
Orange wall and green leaves
Door with blue and white ceramics
Plaza España dynamic shot
Cordoba cathedral interior detail