Another topic discussed in my 2024 thesis, The FSS redesign also moved to a dark, high-contrast background, which is a decision the thesis ties to a broader shift in user preference toward dark interfaces, alongside a deliberate goal of moving away from the “sterile,” overly clinical feel of the previous all-white design.(Jephthah, N. (2024), “Implementing Dark Mode in Web Design,” )

It’s worth being precise about what dark mode does and doesn’t do, since the claims around it get exaggerated online:

• Battery life on OLED/AMOLED screens is a real, measurable benefit — because these displays can turn individual pixels fully off for true black, dark interfaces can extend battery life meaningfully on phones and OLED laptops (LCD screens, which use a constant backlight, see little to no benefit).(Superhuman, “Benefits of dark mode: What research reveals in 2026,”)
• Eye strain claims are more nuanced than most marketing suggests. Users frequently report less eye strain in dark mode, especially in low-light environments, and it’s the single most common reason people give for preferring it.(Nielsen Norman Group, “Dark Mode: How Users Think About It and Issues to Avoid,”) That said, the American Academy of Ophthalmology has been clear that there’s no strong scientific evidence dark mode actually protects eye health — the comfort is real, but “reduces strain” and “prevents damage” aren’t the same claim.
• It’s a genuine visual differentiator. In a sea of similar-looking light backgrounds within any given industry, a well-executed dark theme (paired with a small, purposeful color palette) tends to stand out — and read as more modern.

Getting dark mode right (without hurting accessibility)

A few things worth getting right if you’re considering a darker palette:

• Avoid pure black (#000000) backgrounds. Most current UI guidance favors a dark charcoal or near-black (something like #121212) over true black, both for readability and to avoid “smearing” artifacts on some OLED screens.
• Keep contrast within accessibility guidelines. Dark backgrounds with light text still need to meet WCAG contrast minimums — high contrast doesn’t automatically mean correct contrast.
• Limit your accent colors, don’t multiply them. A dark background makes every bright color you place on it louder — which is exactly why the FSS site used its accent colors (red, yellow) sparingly rather than throughout.
• Offer a light/dark toggle where your audience is mixed. Not everyone prefers dark interfaces, and for some visually impaired users, light-on-dark text is genuinely harder to read.

The takeaway

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Choosing (or rethinking) your website’s color palette? Limebay Media builds color systems around what a brand actually needs to communicate — not just what looks nice in isolation. Hör av dig! if you’d like a second opinion on yours.