Intersectional

Bright Light Usage

Persona: Kofi

Kofi, 40, Ghanaian American, rents a market stall and works outdoors. Uses his phone to invoice customers and check his business account throughout the day in direct sunlight.

About This Condition

Reading a screen in direct sunlight, a bright office, or a high-glare environment reduces visibility for everyone. People who primarily use devices outdoors or in high-ambient-light settings depend on strong contrast, legible typography, and glare-resilient design.

Digital Challenges

Low contrast interfaces, light gray text on white backgrounds, and designs that rely on subtle visual cues become completely unreadable in direct sunlight or high-glare environments. Without high contrast mode or a dark mode option, outdoor and bright-environment users are effectively excluded from completing tasks on the go.

Assistive Technologies

  • High contrast mode
  • dark mode
  • screen brightness controls

Design Considerations

Ensure all text meets WCAG AA contrast ratios at minimum. Support dark mode and high contrast mode as first-class options, not afterthoughts. Avoid light gray on white and other low-contrast combinations throughout the interface.

Clinical Examples

Situational context. Also associated with photophobia, migraines, and post-surgical light sensitivity.