Fernside palette

The foundation colours

Fernside's signature palette starts with deep blacks (#0A0A0A range), pure whites (#FFFFFF), and distinctive icy-blue highlights (#60A5FA to #3B82F6). This combination creates immediate visual impact—calm, modern, and premium without feeling cold or sterile.

The high-contrast foundation ensures excellent accessibility scores. Text remains readable, interactive elements stand out clearly, and the overall aesthetic conveys professionalism and attention to detail.

Layering brand colours

The Fernside palette serves as a starting point, not a constraint. We layer client brand colours strategically—using their primary colour for CTAs, accent elements, or section highlights while maintaining the black/white foundation for clarity.

This approach ensures brand recognition without sacrificing readability or creating visual chaos. Even bold brand colours work within the structured foundation, creating cohesive designs that feel both on-brand and professionally polished.

Why icy-blue highlights

The signature blue serves multiple purposes: it provides visual interest against the monochrome foundation, creates a tech-forward aesthetic suitable for digital services, and has become recognisable as part of Fernside's visual identity.

Many clients choose to retain the icy highlights even when adding their brand colours. The blue complements most colour schemes, adds sophistication, and signals technical expertise—particularly valuable for technology and professional service brands.

Accessibility and performance

High contrast between text and backgrounds isn't just aesthetic—it's essential for accessibility. The Fernside palette achieves WCAG AAA contrast ratios, exceeding standard requirements and ensuring readability for all visitors.

Simple colour palettes also improve performance. Less complex gradients and effects mean smaller CSS files and faster rendering. Beautiful design need not sacrifice speed.