Dark Mode Is About Choice, Not Aesthetics

I’ve always struggled with extreme brightness and deep darkness. That’s why I’ve been wearing those self-tinting photochromic glasses forever. With bright content on a dark background, I can perceive contrast much more clearly, process information more easily, and my eyes stay far more relaxed.

I love tools, websites, and design systems that treat Dark Mode with the same care as Light Mode. And please respect system settings — thanks, LinkedIn, for making me switch Dark Mode back on for every device… and for making me search for the setting every single time.

BBVA online banking and app are great examples of how to do it with real love for detail — for both modes.

Dark Mode isn’t perfect for everyone. People perceive and work differently. Choice matters. “One mode to rule them all” might sound tempting at first, but in the wrong light it quickly leads to “and in the brightness bind them” — a path no brand should wander.

And yes — it means more versions to design for. On top of desktop, phones, tablets, variable font sizes. We could build a whole matrix for that 😉 But that’s the strength of a great design system: you define the rules, and the system decides how to handle it — adapting to users’ needs and preferences while keeping the brand consistent across all modes.

Originally posted on LinkedIn.