Due: March 4 (two days before class)
Please add your response as a comment below. You can review guidelines for the responses here.
Due: March 4 (two days before class)
Please add your response as a comment below. You can review guidelines for the responses here.
This week’s reading focused on the subject of color. This discussion spanned from the basics of color principles (primary, secondary, tertiary, etc.) to the deeper principle of color theory and how to successfully implement color into design. The main takeaway that I gained from this reading is that color is extremely subjective. It can be perceived differently by every person based on a variety of reasons – from the placement of a color itself to a specific person’s color perception or even partial / full color blindness. Furthermore, colors are perceived differently by various groups of people when factoring in gender or cultural associations. Regardless of these internal factors, it is still important to take time when creating a color palette for a design project. (see page 41 from reading) The 8 steps provided in the reading connect to the visual example (see below) of a pleasing and coherent color palette. The palette encompasses main, accent and neutral colors which connect to the keywords below them. I believe that this could be a very beneficial practice when compiling a color palette for a future project. As indicated in the reading, colors produce specific feelings and associations with them – some conflicting perceptions especially. For example, grey may be perceived to be sophisticated and calming or depressing and saddening. By visiting the link where I found this photo (https://saffronavenue.com/blog/tips-tools/fonts-that-will-attract-your-ideal-client/) you can also see the color palettes at play in their various web site re-designs. In action, these palettes very much reflect their various keyword associations. Color is powerful in its unspoken way to communicate a message almost immediately to the viewer.
https://i.imgur.com/ySIemaz.jpg
“A color by itself will elicit an emotional and physical response, but the nature of the response can be altered by placing it in context with one or more colors” (Color Design Workbook, pg. 20).
Colors are such a powerful tool in any design. Understanding them in terms of their relationship with the surrounding composition will allow for a deeper appreciation and experience with the design. When thinking of colors in this sense, my mind jumps to the use of color palettes based on photos in nature. Sometimes it can extremely difficult to make a color palette that is aesthetically pleasing, even with access to the color wheel. I often reference pictures that contain aesthetically pleasing colors in order to make color palettes that flow and create a mood. This practice is similar to the way different cultures name their colors based on material objects in nature. The Vox video mentioned that many demographics base their color names on things like tree sap, which furthers the point of eliciting emotional and physical responses to colors. If you see a color and you think of an object in nature, your senses are bound to influence your memory and the way you interact with that color. That being said, the color palette designers end up choosing has great impact on the reaction of the viewer. Their senses could be stimulated to trigger memories of familiar objects with the same color palette. However, many different objects/scenes in the world have similar color palettes, so when colors are combined to make a full design the meaning/message behind the colors can be fully transformed.
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/63/75/17/637517b5d6e8252aeb8eeb03a1525b13.jpg?b=t
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/74/bb/2c/74bb2ca96d270ce0e28f5e41da668472.jpg
This week’s reading focused on color and how it can be used in graphic designs. It explains how colors relate to each other and how they can portray emotional meanings. It also covers how hue, saturation and value differ from one another. The reading also points out that not everyone sees color the same. One may see a greenish-blue, while the other sees more of a true blue. What stood out to me in this reading was the chart they provided on pages 26-31. I liked how they went through color’s associations, positive and negative connotations, cultural links and other little bits of information. I found this useful to know as I had just finished my project 2 statement where I wrote about the colors I chose and why. I think this chart would be been helpful had I read it before I finished my statement.
In my example I chose a chart that also explains and expands on some of the points made in our reading about color theory and also illustrated them in a different way. It explains how to create tints, shades and tones. Our reading had covered tints and shade, but it did not cover how to create a tone. I like that this chart has something new to offer to our reading. It also gives examples of color palettes that one may use in a project. I also like how in the color wheel they highlight the warm and cool colors on the wheel. I know that I sometimes struggle in deciding how warm or cool a palette should be for certain projects and how it would look together. I believe that this is a nice tool that is provided on the infographic.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IHSdm1G8S-g/TpFCI1OkIjI/AAAAAAAAASQ/yab4b4kEfas/s640/COLORTHEORY_B.jpg
This weeks reading focused on color on all bases; primary, secondary and tertiary, while also expanding on color theory. We learned how strong of a tool colors are when it comes to creating a successful design, specifically the overall relationship between color and the overall composition. However, the main takeaway I got was the fact that color interpretation is completely individual depending on the viewer. For example, the color placement plays a huge factor in how the viewer perceives the overall design. Colors are even seen differently depending on the group or color blindness. For example, not everyone sees every color the same. Some people may view orange as more yellow, while other may see it more as a red-orange. Colors have all sort of associations with individuals that even relate to cultural associations and other sort of affiliations; like negative or positive memories. Overall, I came to the conclusion that no matter who the viewer is, it is still important to come up with a color palette of some sort when planning a design because in the end it is a major factor that will play into how the viewer will feel about the overall design.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b3/ba/39/b3ba39d06f138d46e990bba0130d9325.png
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cc/4f/eb/cc4feb4af02a367e0ac1dda71843bef6.jpg
Our reading this week focused on the power of color and the impact it can play in any design. It discussed everything from color theory, color principles, to the meaning of different colors. When reading through the excerpt, I found a particular interest in the section on color meanings. When going through the different color meanings I found myself unconsciously comparing those meanings to logos I see every day. For some logos, I found myself automatically understanding why they chose which colors. For example, the logo for the brand Tatcha. The logo is purple with gold writing on it. Tatcha is a high end skin care brand, so by using purple as the dominant color it is giving off a luxurious and wealthy feel. On the other hand, some logos didn’t seem to be using color correctly. For example, the dominant color in the Taco Bell logo is also purple. Taco Bell is not known for being luxurious or sophisticated, so having a color of those statures didn’t quite make sense to me. This made me think about and wonder if certain brands and their related colors add meanings to those colors. Taking into account what colors a brand uses when creating their brand image is so crucial to attracting the right audience. While it might seem like a small factor, the smallest of color difference has the ability to completely change someone’s view of a company, product, or service. Below is a graphic I found on Pinterest that breaks down some of the color interpretations that affect design.
https://i.imgur.com/3Gtfco9.jpg
Color is all around us; light beams have different frequencies, and the visible spectrum is the section of light that our eyes can pick up and distinguish. The visible spectrum makes up the rainbow (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Violet) that we see today. These colors make life dynamic, and can strongly influence moods, energies, and rhetoric when used correctly. Designers put particular thought and planning into using colors to create their designs. The primary colors are red, green, and blue. Our eyes can detect these three colors using light, and all other colors come from a combination of mixing primary colors (10). Colors also have different properties. The brightness of a color is how much light is being used, the saturation is how rich it is, and the hue has to do with which specific light wavelength the color is (12). To implement colors effectively into art, designers use the color theory, which “looks at color relationships with an aim to create harmony.” There are many different charts, wheels, and visual aids to show these relationships. Sometimes you want colors to match, sometimes it’s more effective to use contrasting colors, and sometimes you want colors all from the same family. For example, red and green are complementary colors because they are directly across from each other on the color wheel.
Colors also have meanings behind them as well. Yellows create feelings of sunshine, happiness, and energy. Reds are deeper and more passionate, whether it be love or hate. Like the sea and sky, blues are calming. In the video we watched, the color “red” appears first in almost all the dialects, and this may be due to how much it occurs in nature, and also how intense and recognizable it is compared to other colors. Designers keep color meanings in mind when designing for a specific audience and purpose. The first poster uses mainly a pink color and a teal color, but there’s a gradient and shadows that play around with different hues and the brightness of the colors. The bird is a very bright teal, so it stands out. The hand photographed also has teal and pink lights on it to make it look more imerced in the picture, and gives the illusion the bird is glowing teal, further making it stand out and emphasizing its vibrant color. The second poster is more simple, but the colors are just as strong. Orange and blue are across from each other on the color wheel and are complementary colors. The sprinkles in the image may be different colors, but they have the same vibrancy as the others, so they all look like the belong together and the poster has an overall harmony.
https://trendland.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/poster-every-day-magdiel-lopez-8.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/7f/dc/66/7fdc660e8c487efde9b6dab94f26cbb2.jpg
I have always found that color plays an important role in my own life. I like to color code things for organizational purposes, I like certain aspects of my life to follow a scheme (like the stickers on my laptop), and as laid out in this reading, color has the power to make people feel things, myself definitely included. As a result, I found this reading particularly significant. Of course I knew that there were rules about colors and how they can be used, but it’s particularly helpful to have all of the most common color associations and tips laid out in one place. That being said, the most exciting part for me when it comes to color is finding ways to bend these rules. I think especially important in this is that, despite classical color associations, “People have their own associations with color” as well (34). A potential power of a designer is to both play on societal and cultural color psychology, but also find ways to create new associations that spin-off or completely oppose norms.
Another point I found interesting, but not shocking, is the finding that “color causes both physical and emotional responses” (35), supporting the idea that color, despite being taken for granted by so many in our day-to-day living, can have serious power. The discussion of color in relation to brand was also interesting to me; the idea that a particular color could be so deeply entrenched in a brand goes to show what enough exposure and consistency can bring about. On the flip-side of this, however, is the fact that certain color schemes or strategies can become analogous with certain time periods, and therefore may go out of style or become quickly outdated. On page 44 of the reading, an example website is shown to illustrate good color harmony, and while technically the example still holds up in terms of its harmony, overall the color choice communicates the message that the website is out of date and would hardly be considered good design 20 or so years later.
In my own life, I’ve witnessed the psychological power that color can have on people. Our culture tends to push the idea that blue is for boys and pink is for girls, which is also briefly discussed in the reading. As a result, growing up I was convinced that my favorite color should be blue. However, once I started getting older and figuring out more things about myself, I realized that pink is actually my favorite color. There’s nothing wrong with blue (or any color for that matter—I think there’s potential beauty in any shade), but the idea that pink was supposed to be for girls clouded my own opinions for nearly two decades. Now, we’re just talking about a favorite color, so no real harm was done, but I do think it goes to show just how strong the psychology behind color actually is and therefore how much can be done if color is utilized correctly. In a lot of my design, I like to use muted colors (and especially pinks) because I find they represent the gentle and subtly beautiful, and I find myself especially drawn to color palettes that use pink in unique ways to make it and/or other colors stand out. My hope is that this gives my overall work a simplicity that is still inspiring and appealing to the eye.
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/18/91/0e/18910e292f3779e7f2e61044aeefa5fd.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ab/fb/53/abfb53c1fffefdf709b13484436322db.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f2/3a/88/f23a88877189a3ad6c86e253ee378a8c.jpg
The reading from this week discusses aspects of color particularly color theory, it’s history and how color is so important to design. The reading discusses how one color can evoke a response to viewers, but when other colors are added to a design the idea can change completely. “Designers can vary color combinations to produce relationships that are allied or contrasting and therefore can affect viewers’ impression” (p. 20).
The example that I chose to reflect the reading, represents a color harmony chart. I think this aspect of the design process is really important, and something as a beginner designer I often struggle with. When you look at this example, you see that there are colors from opposite ends of the color wheel with varying hues in between. This is important to the design process, and the impact of the viewer. I think that so often I get caught up in using bright colors that will catch the eye of the viewer without realizing that the colors I pick need to have a relationship in order to create a complimentary color scheme that generates a response. This example helps me realize that, and it generates a calming, happy response. I also think this picture is a really great example of varying hues between two colors that are aesthetically pleasing.
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5a/65/dd/5a65dd43e8d169b163245bbde9779a89.jpg
This week’s reading centered around color which just so happens to be my favorite aspect in design. Coming from a society that has established color norms, understanding that these norms aren’t the same for everyone can be confusing, especially when trying to figure out the WHY aspect. After watching the video, I learned information about color names and norms that I didn’t even know existed. One of the most interesting parts of the VOX video started at 2:22. The narrator explains that because earlier societies didn’t use colors to the appropriate standards of today, researchers considered them colorblind. The example they gave was in Gladstone’s research of Homer’s The Odyssey. He explained that Homer used the same word for “purple” to describe other elements that in our english-speaking society, aren’t considered purple. He didn’t reference colors such as orange and blue which is how researchers came up with the colorblind theory that we now know today is untrue.
In Terry Lee Stone’s book, she states, “Color Theory is, at its core, about developing aesthetically pleasing color relationships” (pg 20). This to me, is the most important part about color within design. Design is at its best when the colors cohesively correlate with one another as well as with the message the design is trying to convey. Due to the fact that I feel so strongly about color aesthetics, I almost always test out color samples before I choose my final colors. This way I can see if the colors actually work with one another. My favorite website to use for color aesthetic inspiration is Design Seeds (https://www.design-seeds.com/). This website gives you access to color combinations that come from pleasing photos. Design Seeds does a great job with showing how analogous colors can work to create a visually pleasing aesthetic. Example below:
https://www.design-seeds.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/8_25_FloraTones_vanillalemoncake_Jessica.png
In this week’s reading we learn the ins and out of color and color theory. Starting out with the question, “What is color?” On page 10 we learn about this in a bit more depth, “Color is derived from light, either natural or artificial.” It is important to take this reading from the beginning because it is imperative to how one uses color. Learning about the hue, saturation and brightness values may seem elementary at this point, however they are the critical backbone of color. Basically, a hue is the shade of the same color, saturation is how light or dark a color is absorbed and brightness shows how severe a reflection of light is cast on a particular color. A great example of each of these three definitions can be seen in the chart on page 13. We next transition into color theory. Useful references like color wheels can help in choosing various colors tints and shades while being aesthetically pleasing, similar to the pointed sun shape on page 17. “Color theory is, at its core, about developing aesthetically pleasing color relationships”, (20). Tints and hues can be effective ways to develop color palettes that are harmonious, (22). The meanings of color is another important aspect that many people push to the side. A color provides more than a “favorite color”, it can have deep emotional connections. On page 26 for example, we learn the color blue has the connotation of peace but also depression, two opposite states of being. Color and human emotion really stood out to me in this reading, in particular the study of color psychology, “devoted to analyzing the effects that color has on human emotion”, (50). Marketing products and especially business logos have to look at what colors they choose in direct correlation to who they want their consumers to be.
“Color affects our bodies, our minds, and our moods”, (51).
https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/OjNVhGVg1JPEknxPaLLP1BSO1Po/fit-in/2048xorig/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2017/08/29/070/n/36735788/tmp_zJQWWW_87c12b3553dfb512_disney-2.jpg
https://www.peterspann.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Color-Psychology.jpg
This reading focuses on color and the effect it can have on a design. Without color, or when using the wrong colors, ones design can fall flat and even fail to convey the message one is attempting to send. Learning the history of color theory and how we have gotten to where we are today when it comes to the color wheel and its use in design was interesting to read. One thing I found really interesting in the reading were the ten rules that were given to approach color and use it effectively. There were a few ideas that stuck out to me, one being how color can convey information to the viewer and has the ability to evoke a certain response or emotion in a person. We all have shared meanings when it comes to color, and designers definitely use this to their advantage when they are looking to convey a certain message. Another rule that I thought was important was to create color harmony. Too often one sees a color scheme that just doesn’t quite work and feels off balance. It is important to have a cohesive look that is clean. One idea that I never even thought about before was how people see color differently. One can design something a certain way and expect for it to be seen just as they do, when in reality a multitude of reasons could cause this to not be the case. These issue are often out of the hands of the designer such as color blindness, but it is interesting to think how something you create could be affected by something as plain and simple as the way someone sees. I chose an example of an image that had a very clear color palette after reading this chapter. I decided to take a look at that first idea of how color can convey a message and see what I could get from an image. This image that I chose causes the viewer to feel very relaxed and shows the tranquility of the scene. It is interesting to see how the blues convey a cool but calming tone that is enforced by the warm oranges used. Although the colors evoke very different feelings separately, they come together to create a cohesive image that conveys one common feeling of serenity.
https://d3ui957tjb5bqd.cloudfront.net/uploads/2017/10/16182032/Fall-color-4.jpg
This weeks reading focused on color theory and how colors correlate with graphic design. It explains how color relates and relays the colors emotional meanings. For example, Red, Orange, Yellow, Blue Green, and Purple can influence moods. Every color gives off different energy. I enjoyed learning about the meaning of colors; for example, yellow is a happy bright color, while black can portray sadness and darkness. Using color palettes that well together are key to a photo, painting or drawing. I prefer to use muted tones such as ligsht pink, light tan, and a pale yellow.
I think the photos I have below are very elegant, refined, clean, organized, and all go very well together.
https://i.pinimg.com/736x/3b/1e/44/3b1e44c61004624e571c6ccd80955b9a.jpg
http://www.gooseberrymoon.co.uk/


This week’s reading and video reminded me of another Vox video on the colorization of black and white photographs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vubuBrcAwtY&t=115s One of the “colorers” explains that when you are missing the color in a photograph, you view the entire composition as a whole. But when color is added, you view the photograph in a different way. Color changes the way we look at things.
It would be interesting to see how other cultures that use different color categories would organize a color wheel. I predict, while the names would be different, the color wheels would appear even more similar than the color categories found across cultures. I make this assumption based on the idea that our standard color wheels deviate from our typically color categories (think blue-green or red-orange). It would be interesting to see how other languages tackle various color schemes like complementary and triadic as the language will quite possibly have an influence on how many distinct color categories are added.
The graphic I chose this week depicts two images – an iceberg and a shark. These two things are broken down into their most simple forms. And they are exactly the same – aside from their color. The graphic shows how important of a role color plays in our perception of the world around us. As the reading points out, blue is often seen as sea or sky, both shown on the right, whereas black is seen as fear or death. The designer could have chosen to make the shark grey, but because the image is stripped to its most basic elements, their choice to use a color that has similar associations as a shark makes the viewers job to understand the image significantly easier.
https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/funny-everyday-charts-stephen-wildish-97-580dbd50a6585__605.jpg
“Color meanings are held deep in our subconscious. Color is a state of mind as much as anything. In a physical sense, there is no such thing as color, just light waves of different wavelengths. The human eye can distinguish between the wavelengths, so we see the world in color. However, the human brain perceives more. We feel color. It has biological, psychological, social, and cultural dimensions, all of which give it meaning and convey information” (39). I pulled this quote from the book because it concisely encompassed just how important it is to recognize the history and science behind color theory. Even with my background in analyzing wavelengths of light for various science classes, it’s difficult to bridge the connections between color as an effervescent element in science, and color as a tool in art.
This seems especially true when I find myself explaining these theories to my science-bound friends: why complimentary colors can simulate more depth in a picture, for example, or why it would be better to accent their presentation with a muted shade of green rather than a neon orange that threatens to steal the limelight. I even had the chance to temper my designs for the UI in an Indie app project when I discovered my boss was colorblind to various shades of green and yellow.
And while I can go on about how easy it is to tear color decisions apart, choosing your color palette based on meaning or emotions can be extremely difficult. Anyone can make a palette that looks beautiful, but it takes a thoughtful artist to generate a palette that evokes more than a shallow acknowledgement of, “Huh. That’s kind of pretty.”
My goal is to stick with some of these color rules more strictly for our upcoming assignment, since they articulate more precisely the power of colors for a broader audience.
http://bamstudio.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/pinterest-color-schemes-build-your-brand-unique-and-memorable-color-palettes-to-inspire-you-pinterest-bedroom-colour-schemes.jpg
This last example is an oldie-but-goodie I found a while back on Pinterest. I would put the full image file here, but it’s extremely tall, so I’ll just leave this link here. The turtles are just too cute to resist. https://www.deviantart.com/aquasixio/art/Tutorial-17-A-turtle-walkthrough-345468329
This weeks reading focused on color and how important it is when it comes to graphic design. Color is my favorite aspect when it comes to designing because it really can completely change a design and essentially “give it life”. Terry Lee Stone says, “But all color theory has one goal: to explain color relationships with an aim to create harmony” and I thought this was very interesting. There are so many different colors and so many different meanings behind a color. Color symbolism is often a cultural agreement however sometimes they are varied and conflicting which I couldn’t agree more with. When I use the color blue it may portray sadness but also may not mean that at all so I can see where sometimes it gets confusing. One of my favorite things to do recently is to find a photo on pinterest that I like and upload it to Adobe Color. This website creates a color palette out of the photo you uploaded and allows you to grab the code from that certain color and incorporate it into your own designs. One of my favorite color palette photos I included below. I think the color palette really grabs all the shades and colors in the photo making you almost feel the colors.
https://imgur.com/vxdEbIy