Senior Dark Mode & Accessibility Designer
Lumina Themes Pte Ltd
“Dark mode isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about understanding how people actually browse — late at night, in different lighting conditions, on the devices they own. When you get the contrast right and the toggle works seamlessly, users don’t think about the theme anymore. They just use the product.”
Specialising in elegant dark colour schemes that reduce eye strain during evening browsing, managing contrast and accent colours in dark environments to maintain readability, and designing seamless toggle switches between light and dark themes.
Regional web projects using his dark mode systems
Reduction in eye strain complaints after theme redesign
Years of focused UI/UX and front-end development
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. Focused on colour theory, typography, and user-centered design principles.
Five years developing expertise in WCAG colour contrast standards and accessible design systems for Singapore-based fintech and e-commerce platforms.
Noticed growing demand from users browsing during evening hours. Started researching eye strain reduction through elegant dark colour schemes and contrast optimisation.
Led redesign of a major banking platform’s dark theme, resulting in 34% reduction in user eye strain complaints and significantly improved engagement during peak evening hours.
Researched how tropical climates and high-brightness outdoor environments affect digital interface preferences, leading to specialisation in context-aware theme design for Southeast Asia.
Joined Lumina Themes as Senior Dark Mode & Accessibility Designer. Combines technical implementation with design principles, ensuring toggle mechanisms are intuitive and both themes maintain visual hierarchy.
Deepened expertise in testing methodologies across Singapore’s most-used devices and browsers. Regular speaker at Singapore’s web design and accessibility conferences, advocating for inclusive design practices.
Creating elegant dark colour systems that reduce eye strain during evening browsing. He designs palettes specifically for tropical lighting conditions and diverse device screens used across Singapore.
Managing contrast and accent colours in dark environments to maintain readability and compliance with WCAG standards. Every colour choice is tested for accessibility across vision types.
Designing seamless toggle switches between light and dark themes. The mechanics are intuitive, the transitions are smooth, and the user preference is always remembered and respected.
Testing both light and dark modes across popular devices and browsers used in Singapore — from older Samsung devices to the latest iPhones, across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
Building complete design systems that work beautifully in both light and dark modes. This means rethinking shadows, borders, and visual hierarchy for each theme variant.
Researching user preferences based on time of day, device type, and environmental lighting. Understanding how tropical climates and local browsing habits shape interface design decisions.
It started simple. In 2016, Darren noticed users complaining about eye strain when browsing Singapore’s e-commerce platforms late at night. The bright white interfaces were the culprit. But he realised it wasn’t just about slapping a dark background on everything. That’s lazy design.
Dark mode, when done right, requires rethinking every colour, every shadow, every border. You can’t just invert the light theme. The contrast ratios change. The accent colours need to feel alive in a dark environment. The toggle mechanism has to feel invisible to the user.
What Darren discovered through his banking platform redesign is that thoughtful dark mode design isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about respecting how people actually use devices — browsing before bed, during commutes in bright sunlight (where dark mode still helps), working late into the evening. It’s about accessibility. It’s about retention because users don’t experience eye strain.
Today, he’s committed to testing everything. Every colour combination. Every device. Every browser. Because in Singapore’s diverse digital landscape, what works on a new iPhone might not work on a five-year-old Samsung. And that’s where real inclusive design lives.
Projects using Darren’s theme systems
Years in UI/UX design and development
Reduction in eye strain complaints
Conference talks on accessibility
Practical guides and deep dives into dark mode design, accessibility, and cross-device testing.
How to design colour systems that feel vibrant in dark mode without overwhelming the user. We’ll walk through WCAG contrast ratios, accent colour selection, and real examples from Singapore fintech platforms.
The toggle is where dark mode succeeds or fails. It’s got to be obvious, responsive, and remember the user’s preference. Here’s how to design one that disappears into the experience.
Testing your dark mode across devices and browsers is non-negotiable. We cover the devices Singaporeans actually use, common issues, and a practical testing checklist you can use today.
WCAG contrast requirements don’t change for dark mode, but the math does. We’ll break down how to achieve 4.5:1 contrast ratios on dark backgrounds and why it matters for your users.
Whether you’re building a new product or redesigning an existing interface for better dark mode support, Darren’s ready to help. Get in touch with Lumina Themes to discuss your project.
