Secret Tips About Color That Not All Designers Know About
Created with Adobe Firefly; Prompt: emerald green and royal blue paint
From the vibrant hues of a sunset to the subtle tones of a grayscale photograph, color plays a large role in the world around us, especially when it comes to design and illustration. They play a multifaceted role in design.
Aside from catching our eye, they evoke emotions, convey messages, and when skillfully combined, they can turn a simple image into a masterpiece. But before we dive into the depths of color theory, let's take a step back to understand the basics.
Color Harmony
As children, we learned about primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, at times shown neatly arranged in a color wheel. However, did you know that there are tried-and-true color formulas that people frequently use? As GCFGlobal’s course in “The Power Of Color” points out, color harmony is tested and demonstrates commonly used combinations.
Some common combinations used include:
Monochromatic - hues of one color
Analogous - beside each other on the color wheel
Complementary - opposite each other on the color wheel
Split Complementary - colors on either side of the complement
Triadic - three colors evenly spaced
Tetradic - two complementary color pairs
Perception and Emotion
“Research shows that people across 30 countries found it easy to link colors and emotions, and those links appeared to be universal.” - Christine Mohr, Ph.D., “Why Links Between Colors and Emotions May Be Universal”
A DesignerUp article “A Practical Guide to Color Theory and Color Palettes (Using Numbers)” explains how perception is a very important factor to consider when it comes to color. Everyone perceives colors differently based on our own senses and experiences. However, the thing that is agreed upon by many is that color is connected to emotions.
According to the International Color-Emotion Association Survey, these are the most frequent associations between different colors and emotion in 30 different countries.
Balance
So how do designers navigate this subjective landscape of color? It's all about balance. By experimenting with factors like hue, tint, tone, shade, and temperature, designers can create harmonious color palettes that resonate universally. These elements essentially act as "levers" that designers can pull and push to achieve the perfect balance of colors in their designs.
Image Source: Beach Painting Contractors
Selective Color Palettes
“In the right hands, a color palette will unite the spare elements and direct the viewer’s eye, but in the wrong ones it just might send them into a violent and uncomfortable rage.” Gregg Gunn, Futur Academy
It's not just about throwing a bunch of colors together and hoping for the best. Designers must carefully create their color palettes, selecting just the right combination to accomplish the desired mood and guide the viewer's eye. Greg Gunn, a specialist at The Futur Academy, advises designers in a video to stick to three to five colors in their palettes to avoid any misinterpretations.
As shown, color is not just a visual element, it breathes life into every aspect of our designs. So the next time you gaze upon a work of design, take a moment to appreciate the vibrant combination of colors that brings it to life, the emotions it shows, and the strategic thinking the designer had to do to come up with that combination.
Hi friends! My full name is Jennifer Noelle McCue, but you can call me Jennifer, or Jen. I am a Multimedia Designer, Social Media Strategist and Artist. Outside of my freelance opportunities, I work for a benefits administration company called Winston Benefits as a Media Designer.
My goal in every project is to be a designer who positively transforms people’s visions and brings them to life, a designer who is the go-to for visual solutions, and most of all, a resource that all types of individuals looking for creative solutions can count on.
