Paste this prompt into Claude Design when you want to revise the Cytognosis color system across all profiles for neurodivergent (ND) compatibility.
Cytognosis context:cytognosis-branding/references/04_color_system.md,cytognosis-branding/profiles/companion.md,cytognosis-branding/profiles/crisis.md.
Revise the Cytognosis color system to ensure neurodivergent compatibility across all six profiles, with special attention to the Companion and Crisis profiles. This revision applies evidence-based color choices from ADHD and autism research, establishes a muted 300-shade palette as the Companion default, defines the cognitive-signal color mapping, documents per-profile color overrides, and applies therapeutic color theory where supported by evidence.
Ground every color decision in published research. Key findings to integrate:
| Finding | Source domain | Design implication |
|---|---|---|
| High-saturation colors increase cognitive load and visual fatigue in ADHD | Attention research, occupational therapy | Default to 300-shade (muted) palettes for Companion |
| Cool blues and greens reduce arousal and support sustained attention | Color psychology, clinical environments | Azure and teal as primary Companion palette anchors |
| Warm reds and oranges trigger alertness but increase anxiety when overused | Arousal research | Reserve coral and magenta for alerts and signals only |
| High contrast improves comprehension under cognitive load | Reading research, low-vision studies | Crisis profile requires 7:1 minimum; Companion requires AAA body text |
| Color-meaning consistency reduces cognitive overhead | UX research, accessibility | Cognitive-signal colors must be stable across all surfaces |
| Pattern recognition is faster than color-alone recognition for colorblind users | Colorblind design research | Always pair color with shape, label, or pattern |
Cite sources in the deliverables. Use peer-reviewed research where available; practitioner guidelines (CHADD, NICE) where peer review is sparse.
The Companion profile defaults to the 300-shade (muted) variant of every Cytognosis brand color:
| Brand color | 600-shade (standard) | 300-shade (Companion default) | Use in Companion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violet | #8B3FC7 | #C9A0E8 | Mood signal, headings accent |
| Azure | #3B7DD6 | #8CB8EB | Focus signal, interactive elements |
| Magenta | #E0309E | #F09DCF | Energy signal, achievement badges |
| Indigo | #5145A8 | #A09AD4 | Headers, section dividers |
| Coral | #F26355 | #F9B1AA | Stress signal, gentle alerts |
| Teal | #14A3A3 | #7AD1D1 | Sleep signal, success states, calm indicators |
Design rules for the Companion 300-shade palette:
The Companion profile maps five cognitive signals to specific colors. These colors are stable across all surfaces and never reassigned to other meanings within the Companion profile:
| Signal | Color | Token | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focus | Azure 300 #8CB8EB | --cg-companion-focus | Blue reduces arousal, supports sustained attention |
| Energy | Magenta 300 #F09DCF | --cg-companion-energy | Warm pink signals vitality without triggering anxiety |
| Mood | Violet 300 #C9A0E8 | --cg-companion-mood | Purple associated with introspection and emotional awareness |
| Sleep | Teal 300 #7AD1D1 | --cg-companion-sleep | Cool green-blue associated with rest and biological rhythms |
| Stress | Coral 300 #F9B1AA | --cg-companion-stress | Muted warm signals awareness without amplifying stress |
Implementation requirements:
Document how each profile modifies the base color system:
Uses the full 600-shade brand palette. Signature gradient (linear-gradient(135deg, #8B3FC7, #5A95E8, #E0309E)) as hero wash. No restrictions.
data-viz/.Where research supports therapeutic color effects, apply them:
| Principle | Application | Evidence level |
|---|---|---|
| Blue light reduces agitation | Use azure-tinted backgrounds for calm states in Companion | Moderate (clinical lighting studies) |
| Green promotes reading comfort | Use teal-tinted overlays for long-form reading in Companion | Moderate (reading research) |
| Red increases error detection | Use coral for error states across all profiles | Strong (UX research) |
| Warm tones increase engagement | Use coral and magenta accents for gamification in Companion | Moderate (engagement research) |
| Neutral backgrounds reduce distraction | Use indigo-undertone neutrals (never cold gray) in all profiles | Strong (attention research) |
Important: do not overclaim therapeutic effects. Document the evidence level for each application. Cytognosis is a nonprofit focused on evidence-based design, not color therapy.
Before shipping any color revision, validate:
1. Updated branding/design-system/references/04_color_system.md with per-profile color tables and the cognitive-signal mapping.
2. Updated branding/design-system/profiles/profiles.css with 300-shade token overrides for Companion.
3. A branding/design-system/references/04a_color_nd_rationale.md documenting the evidence base for each ND-specific color decision.
4. Updated branding/design-system/data-viz/ colorblind-safe palettes verified against the cognitive-signal colors.
5. A testing report template at branding/design-system/references/04b_color_testing_checklist.md.
1. Should the 300-shade palette be generated algorithmically from the 600-shade base (e.g., via HSL lightness shift), or should each 300-shade value be hand-tuned? Recommendation: hand-tune, then document the formula for consistency.
2. The cognitive-signal colors are assigned based on color psychology literature. Should Cytognosis commission a small study with ND participants to validate the assignments? Recommendation: yes, even a 5-person pilot would strengthen the evidence base.
3. Should the Companion profile support a "warm" and "cool" variant (warm leans coral/magenta, cool leans azure/teal) for user preference? Recommendation: defer to v2; one default first.
4. Crisis severity scale: is four tiers (low/medium/high/critical) the right granularity, or should it simplify to three (low/high/critical)? Clinical safety team should decide.