Assignment of Microsoft Avatar Colors

What method does Microsoft utilize to assign colors to contacts in their applications?

I've searched online with no luck in finding an answer.

In programs like Outlook or Android, when a new contact is added without an image for the avatar, Microsoft automatically assigns a colored circle with initials. I am working on a project where this feature could be very helpful.

How exactly does Microsoft accomplish this? What is the underlying logic behind it? Is there a specific color assigned to each initial in the alphabet? It seems unlikely, as my contacts Leo and Laura have different colors, while Laura and Rick share the same one.

Take a look at some examples below. Notice how the colors vary inconsistently across different initials:

https://i.sstatic.net/m7Ecr.png

androidhtmlcssoutlookangular-material

Answer №1

Outlook uses randomized contact colors to enhance user interface and human-computer interaction. This design choice helps break up the interface's visual monotony and aids in distinguishing different parts of the application. The randomness of the colors, not based on initials, prevents potential issues such as multiple contacts with identical names appearing together. Similar practices can be observed in platforms like Google, Github, and Stack Overflow.

If you are interested in further exploring design principles, I recommend looking into Google Material and Windows Metro documentation for more insights.

Edit: Upon closer examination, it appears that the color randomization in Outlook is actually somewhat predictable. The color selection seems to be influenced by the information provided - particularly the contact's name. An experiment demonstrates that creating duplicate contacts results in identical colors being assigned. Grouping first and last names under a single category also yields consistent color choices.

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