Colour in design is a playful yet powerful tool that packs a punch in the world of visual communication!
It’s the secret sauce that spices up a design, evokes emotions, and captures attention. Whether it’s a website, logo, packaging, or product design, colour is the cherry on top that adds the “wow” factor.
Choosing colours for a design is not just about randomly picking pretty hues. It’s about intentional, purposeful and strategic decision making. Designers need to think about the context, target audience, and cultural implications of the colours they use, as each colour carries its own unique message and symbolism and psychology. Different colours can evoke different emotions or moods, and using them strategically can help convey your message more effectively. For instance, blue can be calming and trustworthy, while red can be bold and passionate. By using these colours in specific ways, you can influence how people feel about your design and the message it’s trying to convey. So, if you’re designing a flyer for a yoga class, you might use a calming blue to convey a sense of peace and relaxation.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common colours and the emotions they can evoke:
Red
Red is a bold, passionate colour that can evoke strong emotions like excitement, love, and even anger. It’s often used in advertising to grab people’s attention and create a sense of urgency or excitement.
Blue
Blue is a calming, trustworthy colour that can evoke feelings of peace, serenity, and reliability. It’s often used in corporate logos and advertising to convey a sense of stability and professionalism.
Green
Green is a natural, refreshing colour that can evoke feelings of growth, health, and harmony. It’s often used in environmental and health-related advertising to convey a sense of well-being and sustainability.
Yellow
Yellow is a cheerful, optimistic colour that can evoke feelings of happiness, energy, and warmth. It’s often used in advertising to create a sense of playfulness and fun.
Purple
Purple is a regal, luxurious colour that can evoke feelings of creativity, sophistication, and spirituality. It’s often used in advertising for high-end products or services to convey a sense of exclusivity and elegance.
When it comes to colour schemes, it’s all about finding the right balance. A good colour scheme can make a design sing, while a bad one can put a damper on the overall vibe. There’s no need to fear though, as designers can choose from tried and true colour scheme options like complementary, monochromatic, and analogous*.
One of the ways colour can be powerful in print design is through contrast. Using contrasting colours can make certain elements of your design pop and stand out, drawing the viewer’s attention to specific areas. For example, using a bold yellow font on a dark blue background can create a striking contrast that grabs the reader’s eye. This can be particularly effective in things like posters or flyers where you want to catch someone’s attention quickly.
Designers also need to keep accessibility in mind, so that everyone can enjoy their designs regardless of their abilities. That means making sure colours are chosen with readability and accessibility in mind, so everyone can bask in the colourful glory of the design.
Whether you’re using contrast to catch someone’s attention or using colour psychology to influence their emotions, choosing the right colours can be the difference between a design that’s easily overlooked and one that’s a real eye-catcher.
Colour is a bloody powerful tool in print design that can be used in a variety of ways to make your design stand out and convey the right message. So, next time you’re designing something, take some time to consider the power of colour and how it can help make your design a ripping success!
Download your own Easy-to-Follow Colour Chart here:
