Web Design Information

Graphic Design Using Color


Color is everywhere and conveys a message even if we don't realize it. While this message can vary by culture it pays to know what colors "say" in your own corner of the universe, and even what color means to your target market.

If you don't think that color speaks just complete this sentence, "red means ---- and green means -" even a child will know what red means stop and green means go. If such simple ideas work for all of a given culture or market what could it mean to the graphic design of your website, brochure, or product if you know some of this information.

First let's start with the basics. The color wheel. We've all seen it. The color wheel shows the basic colors, each wheel is different in how many shades of each color is shown, but they are essentially the same.

Color harmony, colors that go together well. These will be colors that are next door to each other on the color wheel. Such as blue and green. In reference to clothes these colors match each other. Instinctively most of us know which colors go together when we dress ourselves every morning.

Color complements, colors that set each other off, they complement each other. These are colors that are opposite on the color wheel. Such as blue and orange.

Color depth, colors can recede or jump forward. Remember that some colors seem to fall back such as blue, black, dark green, and brown. Other colors will seem to step forward such as white, yellow, red, and orange. This is why if you have a bright orange background it may seem to fight with any text or images that you place on it. The orange will always seem to move forward.

Now you have the basics so let's go further. Just because to colors go together or complement each other doesn't mean that yo necessarily want to use them on your project. I opened this article with the meaning of colors now here is an example, keep in mind this is one example from western culture.

Color Survey: what respondents said colors mean to them.

Happy = Yellow Inexpensive = Brown

Pure = White Powerful = Red (tomato)

Good Luck = green Dependable = Blue

Good tasting = Red (tomato) High Quality = Black

Dignity = Purple Nausea = Green

Technology = Silver Deity = White

Sexiness = Red (tomato) Bad Luck = Black

Mourning = Black Favorite color = Blue

Expensive = Gold Least favorite color = Orange

So in designing your project it's important to know what colors mean. You can now see why a black back ground with green type would be bad, beyond being nearly impossible to read, if your target market thinks that black represents mourning and green makes them sick. There are exceptions to every rule of course.

So you may want to include some research in what colors mean to your target market. Colors that would get the attention of a teen would probably annoy an older person and the colors that appeal to the older person wouldn't get a second look from a young person.

Color may be one of the most overlooked aspects of design.

Copyright 2004 Kelly PaalKelly Paal is a Freelance Nature and Landscape Photographer, exhibiting nationally and internationally. Recently she started her own business Kelly Paal Photography (www.kellypaalphotography.com). She has an educational background in photography, business, and commercial art. She enjoys applying graphic design and photography principles to her web design.


MORE RESOURCES:

Web Design India Company, Profit By Outsourcing Announces World No Tobacco Day ...
Albany Times Union
On 31st May each year Profit By Outsourcing, India's #1 Web Design Company celebrates World No Tobacco Day, highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce consumption. Tobacco use is the second ...

and more »


FocusMX Web Design and Marketing Agency Launches New Site for HealthCom Media
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Doylestown, PA (PRWEB) May 23, 2012 FocusMX, a premier web-design and marketing firm located in Pennsylvania, launched HealthCom Media's new website on April 26, 2012. The new site prominently features each of HealthCom Media's healthcare-centric ...

and more »


Rocket Web Design Comes up With Custom Website at the Best Deals
SBWire (press release)
Rocket Web Design, a leading online website developer, comes up with a fantastic new scheme of Custom Website at the best affordable rates. Woods Cross, UT -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/24/2012 -- Rocket Web Design, a leading online website developer, ...
Custom versus template: Which way to go with your web designPRWire

all 2 news articles »


Personal Loan Web Design Expert Hired by USA Payday Forever
Virtual-Strategy Magazine
USA Payday Forever has announced the hiring a personal loan web designer. They plan to update their cash advance website. Recently, an announcement from USA Payday Forever included information about their decision to bring an outside personal loan ...

and more »


Business Management Daily wins web design award at 36th Annual International ...
Business Management Daily
by Business Management Daily on May 24, 2012 8:30am Falls Church, Va. — The Specialized Information Publishers Association (SIPA) has named BusinessManagementDaily.com the third-place winner in the international 2012 SIPAwards competition for Best New ...



Sydney Web Design Company Offers Comprehensive Range of Web Solutions
PRWire
Sigma Infotech offers customised and affordable web design and development services that can significantly improve your brand awareness and customer interaction. Sigma Infotech is a complete web solutions provider that works on its clients' web design ...



openPR (press release)

HostGee Web Design Saudi Arabia Announces Corporate Website Design Services At ...
openPR (press release)
(openPR) - At HostGee, Web Design Saudi Arabia, they understand how critical it is for a person to have a professionally designed corporate website, as this is why they take care of the minutest details. A website is essentially the face of a company, ...



OnlyBusiness.com Launches Fully Mobile Version of its Leading Web Design ...
Virtual-Strategy Magazine
“We currently provide high-performance web marketing services for a large proportion of our customer base, so we upgraded our marketing suite of products and added plans which bundled web design and SEO to streamline both costs and business process for ...

and more »


BIT Studios Develops Custom Site for Campus Rentals
San Francisco Chronicle (press release)
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) May 24, 2012 Web design company BIT Studios announces the launch of CampusRentalGuide.com, a website that caters to both students looking for accommodations and property owners with off-campus rentals.

and more »


Choiceonesolutions.com Wins Best Web Design Firm in Arizona Award
MarketWatch (press release)
PHOENIX, AZ, May 21, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- The leading business association in Northern California has come out with their rankings of top web design firms and they have nominated and elected Choiceonesolutions.com as the winner for the ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006