Colour and Design

Seeing Colour 

(Book : Colour and Design : Marilyn De Long and Barbara Martinson : 27/11/17)

Human perception is not a process where one thing follows another in a logical order such as A to Z. It involves searching with a range of perceptions cognitive strategies and approaches. Human perception is more of an interaction to surroundings. This involves considering how we feel and what we recognise etc.

Perception of colour is a prerequisite of seeing and essential for survival. 

"Colour is what we see; to see colour is to see. What things of a given colour have in common is the way they look. If everything in the surrounding world - even shadows - had the same hue and nuance, we would not be able to discriminate one thing from another." 

Without colour there would be no visual relations and no significant visual form. Without any colour at all a visual world would not be conceivable. Visually we use colour as a way of perceiving form. Colour contrast also helps us to distinguish borders and edges and can also be used to form an impression. 

Categorial Perception : aims to structure our perceptions

"To be able to make conscious colour choices, the designer has to find or create expressive symbols, patterns of perceived qualities, that are likely to cause special emotional reactions and feelings in the person perceiving the object or colour. The principles can be learned and analysed. Based on everyday experience of life, and contrary to what is often stated, 'taste' only plays a minor part in the judgement of what we see - and not even personal taste is so unique as we might want to believe."

Indirect Experience & Meaning 

A colour or colour combination may be symbolic or dependent upon agreement, some examples include traffic signals, social colour codes and fashion . colours etc. In the 19th century in the Swedish class society it was common that lower class people were not allowed to wear strongly chromatic clothing; it was an upperclass privilege. Interpretation can also be based on analogy for example love being associated with the colour red. Colour can also be connected with words making them dependant on context. 

Colour Relationships 

Relationships between colours is of high importance specifically to the designer. Historical perspectives of colour include different views both theoretically and personally. A critical knowledge and key colour sense is the basis of any design process. How successful a colour harmonises is purely based on personal perception.

Mutual Influences among colour 

The chemist Michel Eugene Chevreul (1786-1889) Chevreul demonstrated through a series of experiments, that by simultaneously observing juxtaposed coloured surfaces, two types of alterations are noticeable in appearance. The first concerns the intensity of colour or lightness known as the contrast of tone. Secondly applies to the colour itself or the contrast of colour. This happens when a colour yields to the one close to its complementary, so the law of simultaneous contrast is the reason when complementary colours are matched they appear brighter. 

Colour Contrast

Among other investigators the work of Johannes Itten (1888-1967) is well known. His work is founded on the concept of harmony as balance - symmetry of forces - and on the opposition of colours fading away in the grey, which he synthesized in the seven chromatic contrasts of his colour theory.

The Design Context

Colour is a fundamental design component. When a colour combination is applied it is not until it is applied in context that we value colour's effectiveness. The work of Shigenobu Kobayashi, organises colour combinations into categories motivated by different moods they refer to. However as cultural contexts change , so do notions of order and harmony. 

Colour : Organisational Strategies 

If colour is organised to function as a visual language the message will be clear. Colour combinations can be made to fit a variety of contexts for example, in a visual order of importance or sequence etc. This depends on controlling the visual relationships of the three attributes of colour; hue, value and chroma contrast. Controlling these will effect our perception of importance and dominance within a colour combination. 

Important of research in design work 

Effective colour assembly strategies produce strong visual impact, improve legibility and define product identity. Meaningful use of colour should also improve the efficiency of a message. Colour must serve as a primary structural element in print, digital and product design, whilst also creating appropriate spatial and navigational effects. It is also a known fact colour plays an influential role in the interpretation of a message. 

Colour Structures Research Study 

Perception is the process of us acquiring information about our surroundings using our five senses. Colour can also be defined as the system of representation relating to our cultural and psychological experiences rather than just a personal perception.

- Colour is subjective as it can be associated with our psychology.

- Colour is objective as it has inherit hue, value and chroma characteristics.

Research Methodology : Colour Structures

Hue is the generic name of colour and is a term used for colours contained within the visible spectrums. Value of colour can be defined as the relative lightness and darkness represented in a white to black scale. Colours that are modified by black and white can be defined as shades and tints. The chroma attribute can be defined by a colour saturation point. Fully saturated colours modified by grey can be referred to as tones. 

Stimuli - Value, Chroma & Hue Saturation 

Conventional colour harmonies form the foundation of colour organisation, however cannot be sufficient unless colour contrast relationships of the colours attributes are also considered.

Colour in Context, Culture & Traditions 

Specific colours have a variety of meanings and may be recognised as an aspect of location. It can also be used to portray a signal such as protection and firefighters uniform. Historical context can also be a strong influence on colour and colour combinations.

Colour and Cultural Meaning 

Most colours have different meanings and aesthetic appeal and can be considered and used differently in a variety of cultures.