Light and Dark Modes

People set their phones and computers to suit the way they use them. Where it works with the brand and content, I design the website to respect that choice instead of forcing the same colour scheme on everyone.

What it does

The website checks whether the visitor prefers a light or dark appearance and displays the matching design automatically. Light mode remains clear in bright conditions, while dark mode can feel more comfortable in lower light.

There is no separate website to maintain. The same content, navigation, and functions work in both modes.

Why it matters for your business

This is a small detail that makes a website feel considered. Visitors do not need to change how they use their device just to read your pages, and the design feels at home alongside the apps and settings they already use.

It can also help people who find very bright screens uncomfortable, although dark mode is not a replacement for accessible contrast, readable type, or proper testing.

What the numbers say

A YouGov survey of 2,561 adults in Great Britain in February 2024 found that 29% preferred dark mode on their smartphone, while 58% preferred light mode. That is one country’s survey rather than a worldwide measure, but it shows why respecting the visitor’s existing preference is more useful than assuming one mode suits everybody.

Designed in both modes

Dark mode is more than reversing black and white. Brand colours, text contrast, photographs, illustrations, borders, forms, and interactive states all need to remain clear in both appearances.

I treat each mode as part of the design and check both before launch. If dark mode would weaken the brand or make important content harder to understand, I do not add it simply to tick a box.

What clients get

Where the project suits it, clients get one responsive website with coordinated light and dark designs that follow the visitor’s device preference automatically.