Use when:
Semantic, or status, colors show the condition of data relative to a baseline. Red indicates danger or error, yellow signals a warning, and green represents normal or successful performance. These colors help users quickly understand status at a glance.Light mode
Dark mode
Real Example #3
The example below demonstrates effective use of the diverging (status) color palette in a bar chart. Each segment represents a different status for 100 opened deposit units: “Not Reviewed” is shown in a neutral blue-grey with a pattern fill, “Reviewed” in green (success), “Processing” in yellow (warning), and “Unpaid” in red (danger). This application clearly communicates the state and urgency of each category, making it easy for users to assess status distribution at a glance. The combination of color and pattern further enhances accessibility and supports quick visual interpretation.
How to Use
The following Do’s and Don’ts illustrate best practices and common mistakes to help guide effective use of the diverging color palette in data visualizations.
Douse the diverging color palette to convey data status and direction, applying patterns for unclear states, yellow for warnings, green for success, and red for critical issues to support quick and consistent interpretation.
Don'tuse colors outside the defined diverging palette, as it introduces confusion, weakens meaning, and makes data interpretation less accurate.
Dochoose colors intentionally to convey the right message, using green for success, red for danger, yellow for warning, and patterned fills for neutral or pending states, ensuring alignment with data status to avoid misinterpretation and enhance clarity.
Don'tuse the diverging color palette for data that doesn't represent a clear positive, negative, or neutral status, as it can create confusion and lead to incorrect interpretations.
Questions? Challenges?
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