Magic Of Color

2005-11-25T22:06:00.000-08:00

Colors are just colors, right? That's what most people think, but unfortunately, they’re mistaken. Colors aren't just reflections of light, they are used as symbols. These symbols are used to describe how something looks, feels and thinks. So what? Why do you need to know their importance? I'll tell you why; today, people are having troubles with colors. They need to know how and when to use the right color at the right time. Believe it or not, a lot of things people do depend on color use. For example, a hospital is a place where people in different conditions need to rest and relax. That would mean that a hospital needs cool colors like green-blue, blue, blue-violet and violet. Suppose the hospital had stimulating colors like red and orange. That would be a huge mistake because the colors might make the patients annoyed and confused.

What about money? Have you ever thought that colors would affect people financially? Millions of dollars have been spent designing colors for the packaging of items so that we would buy them when we go shopping. Colors affect our buying decision too. Fashion designers decide the colors we should be wearing each season. If the color somehow doesn't go along with the month, the money for the company either decreases or goes Bye!"

Making color decisions in our life can be frustrating, but at least it's so much better than having everything black and white. Color is very emotional. It appeals to our sense of vision in the same way that music appeals to our sense of hearing. Some colors are universally appealing, while other colors appear differently to other people.

There are many reasons why colors are important, and as you see, colors can affect people emotionally, financially and in many other ways too.

As a graphic designer, it is very important to know the importance of colors within your designs. If you don't already realize that color can convey a message within your graphic designs, then reading this article will change your mind. Each color can speak a silent message to people and colors have a different message within each culture. This article will detail the basics of graphic design and color and then will summarize the colors and their hidden meaning.

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 imple 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.

Basics of Graphic Design and Color

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.

Graphic Design and Color Harmony

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.

Graphic Design and Color Complements

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.

Graphic Design and Color Depth

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 you 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.

How To Improve Your Website

2005-11-21T02:14:00.000-08:00

Establishing Goals

Have you thought about your site for this new year ahead? Do you have any goals established? Do you have some new ideas? Last January I reviewed some things to consider for the coming year, and they still apply:

Things to Consider:

• Where would you like to see your Web site by the end of the year?

• Learn what needs to be done to accomplish the above.

• Set up realistic time frames to accomplish your goals.

• Follow through.

Things to Do:

• Keep your content fresh and alive.

• Make sure your site works well with the latest browsers and with older versions (based on your stats and specific needs).

• Promote your site online and off.

In figuring out your goals for the coming year, it's also important to evaluate where your site is right now, which we'll talk about next.

How's Your Site?

Is your site in good shape right now? Here are some items to consider.

Content:

• How's your content?

• Especially on the main page, is your content current and fresh?

• Do you have a good copywriter who writes compelling content?

Site traffic:

• How are your search engine rankings?

• Are you pleased with your traffic from search engines?

• What about your other marketing and the overall picture of bringing in visitors to your site?

Visual appeal?

• How does your site look?

• Is it fresh and alive?

• Does it maintain interest and bring return visitors?

• Some sites don't look out of date even if they were designed two or more years ago. Other sites look worn and tired in less than a year, they look horrible in certain browsers, or may not even work in other browsers.

• Does it give a great first impression?

• What kind of impression does your site give overall?

Feedback?

• How's the feedback about your site?

• Do people complain about getting lost at your site or not finding what they're
looking for?

• Do they complain about broken links or wrong information?

• Do you get rave reviews and lots of praise?

Site maintenance?

• Does your site have any broken links?

• Stale content?

• Do you have new information that hasn't been added to your site?

• Outdated HTML markup with lots of hacks that won't be forward compatible?

Goals Met?

• Has your site accomplished what you'd hoped during the past year?

• If so, is there anything to be done to make it even better?

• And if not, do you know why not and what can be done about it?

So, how does your site fare?

Is it in good shape?

Do you have some rust and dust to remove?

Is your site meeting its goals?

Perhaps your site is in great shape, perhaps you need some updating, or perhaps you're due for an overhaul. If you're wondering whether you need a redesign or if you just need some updating, feel free to read my article about why WEBSTHAN was recently redesigned, When is it Time for a Redesign?

For some sites I've recommended redesigns starting from scratch, while other sites I've recommended just small updates. So each site truly needs to be evaluated on its own merits, needs, goals, and budget.

I wish you all the best of success with your Web sites, plans, and goals for this new year, and a memorable year ahead.

Plot Your Dreams in !!!.... WEBSTHAN

Magic Of Color

How To Improve Your Website