Mini Design Lesson II: Color

There has been a tremendous amount of research on how color affects human beings and some of this research suggests that men and women may respond to colors differently. Color effects us emotionally, with different colors evoking different emotions. In short color has the capacity to effect the human nervous system.


Color Vocabulary:

• Hue: refers to the names of the primary colors, red, green and blue.
  
• Value: lightness and darkness of the color - the amount of white or black added.
  
• Intensity: the purity or saturation of the color
  
• Monochromatic color: use of one color where only the value of the color changes
  
• Analogous colors: colors that are adjacent to each other on the color wheel, e.g. yellow and green

Analogous colors next to each other on the color wheel "get along" and are referred to as being harmonious. Analogous colors are often used in visual design and have a soothing affect.

Complementary colors: colors opposite to each other on the color wheel, e.g. Blue-violet and yellow, represent colors positioned across from each other on the color wheel. Complimentary colors exhibit more contrast when positioned adjacent to each other -for example yellow appears more intense when positioned on or beside blue or violet (see picture below).

In the photograph above - green and yellow are analogous colors that harmonize where as the violet color of the shooting stars appears more intense against a complementary colored background.

Warm colors include: yellows, red and orange we associate these with blood, sun and fire.

Cool colors include: violet, blue and green because of our association with snow and ice.

Source: COMPOSITION & the ELEMENTS of VISUAL DESIGN

Activity: Record the Colors Around You

As you are out and about this season, note the colors around you and how they make you feel. What colors are you most drawn to? Which ones repel you? What types of color combinations do you like? Are the Analagous? Complimentary? Cool? Warm?

Do you find these colors in your wardrobe? in your house? If not, why?

Color Harmony: Layout: More than 800 Color Ways for Layouts That Work

Selecting the right color palette for any design project, whether personal or commercial, can make all the difference in getting it right. Colors set the tone for visual communication and are essential elements in effective information navigation. Unfortunately however, for most people, even many trained designers, choosing color is not an easy process, but with a little bit of science and a color advice, anyone can make the right choice. Color Harmony: Layout takes 23 descriptive adjectives and shows 10 different layouts (letterhead, poster, book jacket, brochure, newsletter etc.) in three color combinations for each adjective. The result is 1,035 color/layout variations illustrating how colors are used to great effect in design. was $25.00 now $16.50 | Buy Now

Mini Design Lesson I: The Rule of Thirds

If you've ever taken a photo class, you've probably heard of "the rule of thirds." If you haven't, it's a fairly simple concept & one that makes your compositions instantly more interesting and appealing. It works with photography, design, landscaping, etc. (Designers might be familiar with "the Golden Mean" - of which, the rule of thirds is a simpler variation).

The basic idea is, instead of plopping something right in the middle of your page (lawn, photo, wall, etc), divide your space into thirds and use that as a guide to place your image (shrub, pictures, subject).

Usually, photographers will place an imaginary grid over their image and adjust it so that the focal point isn't dead center. You can apply the same principles to any design aspect.

The Golden Mean is a slightly more complex version of this rule, in which your design space is divided through a mathematical ratio - causing each space to be smaller than the next.

Generally, what you'll find out is that if you pay attention to what type of design or layout "feels" the best, it will most likely align with the Golden Mean.

Here is a good tutorial on the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Mean.

Activity: Look for the Design Layouts That You Like
As your reading through magazines, shopping, or surfing the net, look for packaging or web designs that catch your eye, and ask yourself why you were attracted to that design. Is it the layout? The color scheme? The pictures? etc.

The more you understand about your own aesthetic preferences, the better you'll be able to incorporate those aspects into your life.

Layout Workbook: A Real-World Guide to Building Pages in Graphic Design

Cullen approaches layout with this comprehensive guide that begins with a series of step-by-step fundamental chapters (a "how-to" of layout) addressing topics such as Inspiration, The Process of Design, Choosing Type, Structure and Spatial Organization, Establishing Hierarchy, and Communicating Messages. Following this thorough and instructive section is a diverse collection of visual case studies showcasing some of the best of layout design; inspirational quotations; and a unique, progressive book design that is truly reflective of the content. was $40.00 now $27.60 | Buy Now

A Lesson from Tyler Perry

As the story goes, at the age of 28, Tyler Perry, actor and playwrite, saw an episode of Oprah in which she commented that writing something down can act as a catharsis. Perry, who had grown up impoverished and abused, and spent most of his adulthood being angry about it, decided to give it a try and began keeping a diary. As he wrote, he would change the names of the characters (to protect his privacy more so than their's), and discovered that he had the beginnings of a play.

He decided to turn the events into a play, saved up $12,000 to rent a theater, hire a cast, and market. The play, called I Know I've Been Changed closed after a week, having shown to only 30 people. Perry, having spent all of his money on the production, was broke, and homeless. He would spend the next six years working on the play and saving up money.

Having already decided that if the play was not a success this time around he would quit for good, Perry opened the play in Atlanta at the House of Blues to sold out crowds. It would soon move to a larger venue, continuing to sell out each night.

This was his tipping point. From there he wrote several more plays and started a theatrical troupe which gained a huge following in the Urban Theatre which propelled him into Hollywood, even though no one there had heard of him. His plays have since become large grossing movies (Diary of a Mad Black Woman...).

All through the successes, Perry has been criticized for the style of theater he's created - but not once has he stopped using his authentic voice to tell these stories. And, although the stories may not connect to a universal audience, they have connected, and continue to connect, with (what is termed) the Urban audience.

So what's the lesson here? I think you can pick or choose: Persistence, follow your dream, don't give up even when it feels like you should.... More than any of that, Perry found his authentic voice & he let that voice be heard.

I challenge you to find your authentic voice.

Challenge: Find your Authentic Voice
keep a diary or journal & write in it daily. Write about difficulties that you feel keep you from your best self. If you can't find the words, draw, scribble, color - just let it out.