Data Science Color Psychology & Meaning
Data science is GitHub dark mode as a design system — these specific blues and greens signal code, data, and the productive darkness of a developer's screen at 2am.
#0D1117
#1F6FEB
#3FB950
#8B949E
Background
Primary Accent
Secondary
Body Text
Data Science Color Palette
#0D1117 · #1F6FEB · #3FB950 · #8B949E
AA
WCAG Grade
6.2:1
Contrast Ratio
2,500
Saves
6,700
AI Copies
Use #0D1117 as the background. Use #1F6FEB as the primary accent. Use #3FB950 as secondary. Use #8B949E as body text/supporting color. Palette mood: Data Science — dark, technical, precise.
Hex Codes, RGB & CMYK Color Values
Technical breakdown for the Data Science color scheme. Use these values for web design (HEX/RGB), print projects (CMYK), or specialized design software (HSL).
| Swatch | Design Role | HEX | RGB | CMYK | HSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Luminance: 0.5% | 13, 17, 23 | 43%, 26%, 0%, 91% | 216°, 28%, 7% | ||
| Primary Accent Luminance: 17.7% | 31, 111, 235 | 87%, 53%, 0%, 8% | 216°, 84%, 52% | ||
| Secondary Luminance: 36.3% | 63, 185, 80 | 66%, 0%, 57%, 27% | 128°, 49%, 49% | ||
| Body Text Luminance: 29.1% | 139, 148, 158 | 12%, 6%, 0%, 38% | 212°, 9%, 58% |
Data Science Tints & Shades
Hover states, borders and elevation need lighter and darker steps of your base colors. Here are computed tints and shades for every color in the Data Science palette — click any swatch to copy its hex.
#0D1117 gently saturated blue
#1F6FEB saturated blue
#3FB950 gently saturated green
#8B949E muted cyan-blue
Data Science Palette Contrast Matrix (WCAG 2.1)
Every color tested as text on every other color as background. Body copy needs 4.5:1 (AA), large text and UI components 3:1. AAA requires 7:1.
| Text on Background | Preview | Ratio | Grade | Safe For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #3FB950 on #0D1117 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.45:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #0D1117 on #3FB950 |
Aa Sample Text
| 7.45:1 | AAA | Body text, headings, UI |
| #8B949E on #0D1117 |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.15:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #0D1117 on #8B949E |
Aa Sample Text
| 6.15:1 | AA | Body text, UI |
| #1F6FEB on #0D1117 |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.08:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #0D1117 on #1F6FEB |
Aa Sample Text
| 4.08:1 | Fail | Large headings, UI components |
| #3FB950 on #1F6FEB |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.82:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #1F6FEB on #3FB950 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.82:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8B949E on #1F6FEB |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.51:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #1F6FEB on #8B949E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.51:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #8B949E on #3FB950 |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.21:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
| #3FB950 on #8B949E |
Aa Sample Text
| 1.21:1 | Fail | Decorative use only |
Color Harmony: Custom Scheme
The Data Science palette is built using a custom relationship between its hues. This ensures that even with high-contrast accents, the overall scheme feels balanced and intentional.
Hue Wheel
A custom palette is often preferred by professional designers because it balances visual interest with cohesion.
History & Design Context
GitHub's dark mode palette (released 2020) became the de facto visual language of developer tools and data science interfaces. The specific blue and green system is deeply familiar to technical audiences.
Best Design Use Cases
Very dark background. GitHub blue for primary interactive elements. Green for positive indicators and success states. Gray for secondary info and metadata.
Industries This Palette Suits
Data science tools, developer platforms, code editors, analytics, technical SaaS.
Colors That Pair Well With Data Science
Need a fifth color? These three companions are computed from the palette's own hue positions on the color wheel, so they extend the scheme without breaking its harmony.
orange
directly opposite #1F6FEB on the wheel — the strongest accent for CTAs and highlights when you need maximum energy
blue
30° beside #1F6FEB — a calm secondary that extends the palette without adding tension
tinted neutral
a paper-white carrying the palette's own hue — perfect for surfaces and dividers
Using Data Science Without Breaking Accessibility
- Use #1F6FEB for buttons and links — it scores 4.1:1 against the #0D1117 background (above the 3:1 UI-components threshold).
- Set body text in #8B949E — 6.2:1 against #0D1117 passes WCAG AA (AA) for long-form reading.
- Let #3FB950 carry sidebars, cards and footers — at a mid lightness it separates zones without stealing focus from #1F6FEB.
How to Implement the Data Science Color Scheme
To use this Data Science color palette in your web project, you can copy the following CSS variables or Tailwind CSS configuration. These roles ensure your UI maintains accessibility and visual hierarchy.
Option 1: CSS Variables
:root {
/* {name} Palette - ihatecolors.com */{'
'} --color-bg: {colors[0]};{'
'} --color-primary: {colors[1]};{'
'} --color-secondary: {colors[2]};{'
'} --color-text: {colors[3]};{'
'} {'}'}Web Design Tip
Use #0D1117 for the main background and #1F6FEB for primary buttons. This creates a high-contrast focal point.
Accessibility Note
The contrast ratio between #8B949E and #0D1117 is 6.15:1 (AA). Ensure your body text remains legible.
Data Science Palette — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the hex codes in the Data Science color palette?
The Data Science palette contains #0D1117, #1F6FEB, #3FB950, #8B949E. Click any swatch on this page to copy its value, or export all four at once as CSS variables, Tailwind config, SCSS or a Figma-ready list.
Is the Data Science color palette accessible (WCAG)?
Yes for its strongest pairings: #3FB950 on #0D1117 reaches 7.4:1 (AAA). For body text always keep a 4.5:1 ratio and for large UI elements 3:1 — the full contrast matrix above shows the exact score for every color-on-color combination in this palette.
What colors go well with the Data Science palette?
Beyond its own four colors, #EB991E, #3C2ADF, #ECEDEE extend it naturally: the complementary hue for high-energy accents, an analogous neighbor for calm transitions, and a tinted neutral for surfaces. All three are computed from this palette's hues on the color wheel.
What mood does the Data Science palette create?
Data Science reads as dark, technical, precise. Saturated blue drives the personality, grounded by gently saturated blue — a combination that works best when the deep base gets most of the canvas.
Can I use the Data Science color palette commercially?
Yes. Individual color values can't be copyrighted, so the Data Science palette is free for personal, client and commercial work — websites, branding, apps, print and social content, with no attribution required.
How do I add the Data Science palette to Tailwind or CSS?
Use the export panel on this page: CSS variables, a Tailwind config block, SCSS variables, or a Figma copy list are generated from Data Science's exact values, including the tint and shade ramps shown above.