Color Matters

Exploring the Effect of Color

Science of Color
How color reaches our brain

Color Theory
Patterns in how we see color

Color Connotations
What colors mean to us

Color affects our behavior

Color and Fashion

(a quick word)

"The generally accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. The reason is that pink being a more decided and stronger colour is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl."
Ladies Home Journal, 1918

Color History
Use of color over time

Victorian Era 1880-1904

1. the Brown Decades 2. deep & dark modulation of rich, warm tones

Art Deco 1925-1939

1. clean, flowing lines, streamlined sans serif typography 2. gray & metallic hues, blue of the blues & jazz, cold pastel tones

Atomic Age 1945-1959

1. wartime color: red, white, blue, dreary browns & grayeddown hues. 2. chartreuse & flame red

Far Out Sixties 1960-1969

1. 1st half : pink, tan, baby blue or gray 2nd half : red & blue, eerie orange & pink 2. heavy borders & blacker color of sans serif types

Current Color 1993-2000

1. Richly saturated, slightly muddied colors 2. comic book colors, retro color schemes, fluorescent & metallic colors 3. If it feels good, do it!

Rave Color 1990-2000

1. innovative, far-out, lousy, interesting 2. No qualms about scanning copyrighted images

Be aware that color affects you. And your designs. Because it does.

References for images used in this presentation are available in the speaker notes section.

Thanks for listening.

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