Colors are a huge part of life. They evoke our feelings, help us remember memories, and affect our mood. Learning how to use color for your website is an effective way to generate a specific response from your users and make your website more actionable.

 

Georgia O'Keeffe famously said, “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way.” This is true for us all, and you don’t have to be a famous artist to hone the power of color. All you need is an understanding of branding and color psychology. Suddenly, a whole new world of color and design will be yours to explore.

 

Consumers and brands alike often underestimate the power of color. Well-versed marketers know just how powerful it can be, but it's hard to put this influence into words unless you have a strong understanding of how color affects us as humans. In this guide, we’ll take a close look at the psychology behind our favorite colors, how brands have successfully used color in the past, and how you can choose a good color scheme for your own website.

The Psychology Behind Color

Does a blue sky make you feel relaxed and calm? Does bright yellow make your heart race a bit faster? If you’ve ever experienced any of these feelings, you’re not alone. Color is a tool for communication, and it’s been used since the dawn of civilization to express influence, action, and mood.

 

It was in 1666 when English scientist Sir Isaac Newton first discovered that when white light passes through a prism, it separates into all of the visible colors. These visible colors don’t communicate the same things to everyone. The way you feel about certain colors is a deeply personal thing that’s derived from your own experience or culture.

 

However, there are some general “rules” of color that we can take from our own western history. Here are some of the most well-known associations with color that you’re probably familiar with:

 

• Black: Evil
• White: Purity
• Red: Love
• Blue: Calm
• Green: Envy
• Purple: Wealth

 

These might seem like a very basic level of color understanding, and that’s because they are. The deeper symbolism behind these colors takes root throughout our history and culture, and they’re not stagnant. Colors can change meaning in different situations and throughout time.

 

For example, do you know the story of why purple symbolizes wealth? In fact, Queen Elizabeth I forbade anyone except the royal family from wearing purple since it had such an elite status. Hundreds of years ago, purple dye was initially incredibly expensive. In the time of the Phoenicians, the dye could only be found in a small mollusk in the Mediterranean sea. Since it was so expensive to collect, it was only used by the wealthy elite.

 

There’s a story just like this one behind almost all of your favorite colors. The more you understand the history of colors, the better equipped you are to use these colors to your advantage.

How Do Companies Utilize Color Today?

As you’ve probably realized, we’ve come a long way from purple only symbolizing wealth. Colors have become complex entities, and now they’re a tool used by marketers and designers to create branding that resonates with audiences.

 

To understand how companies utilize color today, let’s look at some of the most well-known brands and the colors behind their logos and designs.

 

Red - When it comes to marketing, red is said to trigger stimulation and appetite. It’s also commonly used in clearance sales since it’s known to call your attention. Red has even shown to raise the human heart rate measurably when they see it. Red brands: Frito Lay, Nintendo, Netflix, ESPN, Coca-Cola, and Lego.

 

Blue - Blue in marketing is used to symbolize professionalism and strength. It’s a favorite color for a lot of people, so it’s often used to demonstrate trust. Blue brands: Facebook, Visa, Samsung, AT&T

 

Yellow - Yellow is all about optimism and happiness. It’s great at grabbing users’ attention, so it’s commonly used for fast food brands. Yellow brands: McDonald's, Snapchat, Subway, IKEA.

 

Green - Green has recently been used to show eco-friendly brands, but it’s also used to convey growth with financial wellness. Green is related to health, relaxation, and productivity. Green brands: Starbucks, Excel, Holiday Inn, Heineken, and Land Rover.

 

Purple - Purple has come a long way, but it still does symbolize royalty as well as wisdom and success. This is why it’s usually used for luxury brands. Purple brands: Crown Royal, Qatar Airways, Hallmark, and Cadbury.

 

Black - Black as a color has also developed from its original “evil” symbolism. Today, it conveys professionalism and relates to intelligence and authority. Brands use black to maintain simplicity or to show a luxurious quality. Black brands: Amazon, Disney, Chanel, Nestle, Gucci, Hermes.

 

Multi-Color - Finally, sometimes brands use a few colors to show their diversity and to stand out from other brands. These are often used by internet-based companies or global brands that want to show connectedness. Multi-color Brands: Windows, Google, NBC, eBay, the Olympics.

 

How did you feel reading through these lists of brands? If you’re like most people, you likely understood the connection just by your current feelings about these brands. These brands have been crafted by expert marketers who use colors to tell their story.

Step-By-Step Guide to Choosing Your Website Color Scheme

With your website, you want it to tell the story of your brand, but you need to do that in a simplified way that doesn’t get in the way of the user experience. It takes users a startling 50 milliseconds to form an opinion about your website. That’s less than a second to make an impact.

 

Go through these steps below to make sure you’re choosing the right colors for your website.

 

Step 1: Choose Your Dominant color

First, you need to choose your dominant color. This is your brand color, and it’s how you’re going to create a design you love. Remember all of those words and emotions associated with the colors we listed below? Refer to your list and decide which color most closely relates to your brand.

 

This is the color your audience will remember most when they visit your website. If you’re trying to show that you’re eco-friendly or growth-driven, go with green. If you’re a calming, thoughtful brand, go with blue, and so on. If you already have a logo, make sure this color is complementary or the same.

 

Step 2: Consider Your Audience

Next, consider your audience and what colors they’ll prefer. Remember how we said our perception of color will depend on our history and culture? This is very relevant if you’re trying to address a specific group of people.

 

While all genders can like all colors, it’s true that some colors and shades speak to one gender more. The same goes for age. Keep your target audience in mind to make sure your colors speak to them. Here’s a simple guide to help:

 

• Bright vs Soft - Men prefer bright colors while women prefer soft colors
• Blue, Purple, and Green - These are the colors women prefer the most
• Blue, Green, and Black - These are the colors men prefer the most
• Bright colors - Brighter colors appear to younger users
• Achromatic - These are colors that have no hue (like black and grey), and they’re preferred by older adults and men

 

Step 3: Where to Use Your Dominant Color

Now, it’s time to utilize your dominant color. You want this color to attract attention, but not too much attention. We’ve all visited websites that had too much color, and it can be confusing to know where to even look. Try to use your dominant color in a limited number of places, especially where you want users to take action.

 

The best places to use your dominant color are in the logo, menu tabs, calls to action, and when highlighting important information. They’re also useful for titles and buttons.

 

Step 4: Choosing and Using Your Accent Colors

Your website would be boring if you only had one color. If you want your website to appear professional, you need accent colors. This is the scary part since mixing colors can be complicated.

 

When in doubt, limit yourself to 1 or 2 accent colors. Too many colors can be overwhelming. Your accent color might be the same color but in a different shade, like choosing a maroon when you already have red as your dominant color. It might also be a neutral that complements your current color. You might even bring in an entirely new color that means something to your brand.

 

Where should you use your accent color? Use it in subtle places like in the current menu tab, subtitles, and to highlight secondary information.

 

Step 5: Tie It Together

Last but not least, it’s time to tie it all together. Now that you know what colors are right for your website, it’s time to create a stylish website that works for your business.

 

Start by building a website or finding a premium theme that matches your design aesthetic. From there, customize any elements to make sure the right colors are pulling through.

 

Consider any extras that incorporate your colors as well like graphics, images, and more. These are the things that tie the entire look together. To finish the process, take a look at your completed website. How does it make you feel? It can help to bring in some extra sets of eyes.

Final Thoughts

 

Creating a website is about more than throwing different colors on the page. In fact, color is one of the most complex parts of the design process. Not only does it take some understanding of colors to know which look good together, but you also need to know the meaning behind the colors you use.

 

You can experience this for yourself the next time you go shopping. Take a look at the different brands offered for a specific product. How do these brands make you feel? It’s this same effect you’re trying to achieve with your website.

 

The right colors come from your audience and the meanings behind these colors, not just what colors you prefer. If you put your audience first, you’ll create the best color scheme for your website in no time.

Wildlife has been inspiring humans since art itself had existed. The habitats of wildlife had been equally as impressive to some of the greatest artists in human history - all those landscapes with vivid colors we see in our art history books are once inspired by breathtaking nature, and amazing natural sights did not stop taking our breath away. Let us take a look at how many astonishing color palettes featured by COLOURlovers have been inspired by animals, mountains, and sunsets over waves.

 

Bird Lovers

 

It is well known that most birds change the colors of their feathers in the season of attracting their partners. Out of all animals, birds have given colors the most attention and an important role in their yearly rhythm, and this is why birds can be qualified as true COLOURlovers. It comes as no surprise that birds have inspired some of our top palettes over the years, such as this one. Yellow is one of the most exotic colors, and one of the boldest generations is wearing it this season. Yellow is also a great way to be noticed in the wild, so this little cutie is using three different shades of it among its feathers. Our palette is complemented with the appropriate density of a smooth orange shade, which highlights the appearance of the yellow dominance.

 

 

 

Northern Winds

 

This palette extrapolates the beauty of human intervention in pure wild nature. The purple and brick colors are bringing a new, refreshing aesthetic to this picture, resulting in a color combination that will never get out of fashion. To this day, we see these middle century style in the interior design, especially in public spaces (coffee shops, bookstores), as well as the textile industry. Red and green have always been a moving combination, and this set of brick colors with a variety of green shades is an image so beautiful that it's hard to forget it.

 

 

Showing Off

 

Well, in fairness, if anyone has the right to show off, it's this divine and proud creature. Flamingos are considered among the most exotic birds and people used to travel across the globe just to take a look at them in their natural habitat. Even so, the misconception of their color has transferred to our cartoons and so to our urban culture, so nowadays we see an infinite number of designs of vibrant pink flamingos. Unlike the cartoon, our flamingo is showing off a palette of subtle red shades, against the blue surface of the water, a view that is simply calling for a vacation on a tropical destination.

 

 

 

Talking Waves

 

This palette is describing a breathtaking picture - the moment in which a wave is communicating the sea to the sand. On the surface of the sea, we can see a bright blue sky, and in the deep waters, the smooth stones with green plants are giving us the beautiful shade of turquoise. When set in the same palette as the colors of the sand, we get an even richer color combination than in a desert - sky situation. The beauty of this palette is the special shade of both blue and orange, which is achieved with the wave between them, giving us an astonishing gradient of both colors in the palette.

 

 

 

Purple Madness

 

If you are one of the believers that it takes at least two colors to make a good palette, Purple Madness is one of those palettes which prove you wrong. This hot, spicy, mystical and magical color gradient is evoking deep feelings in the viewers around the world, regardless of the culture. Such strong colors are usually a defense mechanism in wild nature, although on rare occasions they play a role in the reproducing life stage. Honestly, if I were to come across this magnificent spectrum of colors on a plant, I wouldn't tempt my luck in trying out her poison. This venomous palette is only for the bravest, and those who are brave enough will have great fun applying this palette in everyday wear or bedroom design.

 

 

 

 

What do you think about our five picks? What are your favorite palettes featured by COLOURlovers? What inspires you? Tell us everything in the comment section below.

 

Written by: Nina Petrov

In our previous article, we suggested several platforms where graphic designers could sell their work. A big part of the contemporary design community are comic writers, and these platforms also come in handy for selling products related to your comics. This is why we decided to explore some Instagram accounts that help these authors reach a wider audience across social media, and take them to their online shops. Comic content explored here is not only funny but relatable to our personalities and also tackles some social causes that matter to the artists.

 

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@punkystudio

 

Punky Studio takes us on a trip that follows our main character, a cat, which explores daily challenges such as anxiety and lack of motivation. The author uses this platform to talk about mental health, and okay, an adorable dog from time to time, but this Instagram account is linked to the Etsy shop where you can buy illustrations or handmade pins about mental health. What makes this account sell is the content which speaks to the cause-driven people worldwide, but also a good brand, authentic drawing and good understanding of the Instagram audience.

 

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@eckyo.me

 

 

Eckyo.me advertises an online drawing course by the author Ecky O. This Instagram account buys us with adorable characters and well-developed brand, but this art of visual storytelling is used to share motivational and inspiring short stories. This account is like your daily dose of Kung Fu Panda wisdom on social media, which takes you to their website to learn how to increase your character drawing skills for improving your own work. This account is an example of using Instagram to sell education, while the shared artwork convinces you that they know what they are doing.

 

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@4amshower

 

 

4 am shower is an account that represents illustrations created by Guy Kopsombut, who tells us short stories about cute wild animals and their adventures. Every story is sharing a motivational and supporting message, making it our daily dose of cute-things-on-Instagram. For Guy to be able to tell us about love and friendship, he has to receive a lot of support from his fans around the world. Guy does this by rewarding his supporters on Patreon with prints, sketches, stickers, postcards and other perks featuring our favorite love-giving animal of the month.

 

 

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@handsoffmydinosaur

 

 

From a wide green sea of Instagram, a charming Greek humor finds its way to our feed. I am talking about one of the most popular designer profiles Hands Off My Dinosaur - and I do believe nobody want's to mess around with this guys dinosaur. Teo is selling, by his own words, "illustrations and stuff",  and he does it remarkably. This Instagram account will surprise you with ordinary things in out-of-the-ordinary situations, which will make you laugh till your stomach hurts. His humor is often related to food, but some interesting anthropomorphic planets, chess figures and washing machines make an appearance as well. The link on this profile takes us to his Etsy shop, where we cannot resist to cards, stickers, prints, magnets and other "stuff" we just really wanna pin to our wall and have it make our day every morning.

 

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@safely_endangered

 

 

Safely Endangered has been around with us for quite some time, during which it has developed a certain audience type which this account can take to the end of the world with their eyes closed. The audience to these "silly comics" are enjoying the safe environment in which they read the silly jokes which sometimes go all the way to the dark corner of our consciousness and back. Besides the usual mugs and prints, the personal website we are taken to is selling a graphic book of your favorite comics and more, using selling services such as Amazon. A very specific niche of these comics are the reason why this account has almost reached a million followers and is now selling a book worldwide.

 

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@stacieswift

 

 

Stacie Swift, or probably the most famous Stacie on Instagram, is our next pick for designers social profiles. Stacie uses this social network to illustrate positive messages and she, just like you, identifies as a color lover! Her account is well branded with bright, chippy colors, which support the background of each post. Her mission is to make your days with awesome sense of design and comforting words, which she is now well recognized by, and most loved by those who care about their mental health. Stacie has a shop for her postcards, but also socks and other items, a personal website and a blog where she shares her thoughts. On top of all this, she also uses Patreon where most supportive fans can reach her.

 

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@steinbergdrawscartoons

 

 

In our previous article, we have mentioned Society 6 as a platform for selling your design. Steinberg is one of the artist whose chose was precisely Society 6, while his Instagram account helps him reach his customers. Steinberg is a type of cartoonists we loved reading in our daily newspaper. His critics of society are funny, realistic and relatable. He usually uses simple black and white drawings to tell a story, although sometimes he cheers us up with water colored images and amazingly balanced colors, which reasure us that he knows what he's doing.

 

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@there.goes.motivation

 

 

I don't know if these full stops in the name of the account are on purpose, but they are really suiting pauses between each word, which describe the account accordingly. Backed with personal experience of a girl in the urban society, Loron really gets people involved. Her characters are also very well developed and animated-like, so we can easily see this turning into an animated show one day, with the right support. For there.goes.motivation Loron uses Patreon and exclusive perks for her most loyal supporters.

 

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@relatabledoodles

 

 

Another Patreon user, Relatable Doodles are a super successful Instagram trend, presenting the type of doodles you can relate to (if the name didn't say it all). This designer tackles burning issues such as use of technology, ecology, activism and activism-wanna-be, as well as anxiety, friendship and relationship inspired topics. Cee has really made it into "creating comics on the internet" as her full time job, but she knew how to develop a responsive community around her work before asking them to pledge on Patreon and support her. A truly inspiring story of an Instagram account, from which we can all learn from.

Written by: Nina Petrov

Digital market his not only the future but also our present. If you are a graphic designer, there are infinite ways to make your passion profitable. One of them is to sell your design online, on one of many platforms created for a competitive digital market. Whether your designs are printable on canvas, cushions, T-shirts or business cards, one of these selected platforms will become your favorite marketplace. Explore their communities, get inspired by designers worldwide, and make money selling your fonts, templates and much much more.

 

Design Cuts

 

Design Cuts is an exclusive community which features only creme de la creme of the design world. They created a highly competitive marketplace for fonts, templates, graphics and wonderful stock photos. To get featured on their website, you would need to be selected through their contact form.

 

Creative Market

 

This awesome platform is one of our favorites. Every designer can open a shop here, and sell everything from fonts to 3D assets. You can arrange your own store and set your prices, and Creative Market will take 30% of the items sold. Their community counts over five million users, which makes it a challenge to find your way to your audience, but also too good to resist.

 

Big Cartel

 

Unlike your stores on other websites, this platform lets you customize and brand your own shop around your personal visual identity. Each shop is supported with access to analytics, market research tools, and social network tools, so it's even easier to attract your customers through social media you already use. They have a free plan, and their full support plan will cost you $29.99 per month.

 

Etsy

 

Although Etsy is primarily used for marketing handmade and vintage items, they support sales of every type of design. A big advantage of this craft market is millions of users worldwide, which can make your work be sold around the globe. To list a product here, Etsy charges you $0.20 for four months, which makes it be recommended for serious and confident players.

 

Society 6

 

Society 6 is an online shop which sells and ships primarily art prints, phone cases, and T-shirts, with your design. This unique platform sells products which you design, and they take care of everything for you. If you wanted to work in fashion or interior design, or both, this is just the right place for you. You can freelance for Society 6 and be well-paid and featured everywhere.

 

Design By Humans

 

This online store also offers you the possibility to get printed on T-shirts, prints, mugs, etc. The cool difference is that they let you create your own storefront. Everything else is taken cared of by the community managers themselves, so, again, no stress for you, just creativity.

 

Deisgnhill

 

This authentic marketplace is a community where you can find (and offer) great quality logos, brochures, business cards, etc. Show your amazing templates to the competitive community, and a well-paying customer. This website also has a shirt design maker software for custom design creations.

 

Redbubble

 

Designers love Redbubble because it ensures fair payments - no hidden taxes and percentages here. Every seller can set their own profit margin for every product type. Your earnings are delivered to you each month, while membership is completely free of charge. This platform is home to artist groups which make this community a cupcake.

 

CafePress

 

One website which lets you sell various design products and customize your own online shop. Crete without limits and only pay your fees after you successfully sell your artwork.

 

Graphic River

 

Infographics, add-ons, textures, vectors, icons, logos, templates and many more products which you can upload and sell on this big platform. The community can give you feedback on your work, which is great support if you are growing your audience from zero. You are also able to present a live demo of your design to potential customers. Pretty cool, huh?

 

How did you like our 10 platform picks? Did you already try one of these? What is your experience like, which one would you recommend? Please tell us in the comment section below.

 

Written by: Nina Petrov

Have you ever known that the colour uniform you wear can make a difference to your day? Whether you’re a doctor in men’s scrubs or a nurse in a women’s scrub set, the colour of your scrubs possesses power! Empower yourself by choosing the right shade of scrubs to suit your needs.

 

Pink Scrubs

When I think pink, I think fuzzy and sweet; like cotton candy or soft, cozy bunny slippers. What comes to mind when you think of pink scrubs? Pink nursing scrubs denote friendliness, empathy, compassion and love. Pink scrubs give off calm, loving vibes.

Ciel Scrubs

We’re talking professional here. I mean, like seriously classic. That’s what ciel scrubs are all about. Nurses in ciel scrubs make a professional, yet approachable impression, and are often generous and loyal.

Red Scrubs

Okay, so not many nurses go for red scrubs, because, well, blood. But those who do are passionate people who possess a love of life, remarkable inner strength, and a go-getter mentality.

Black Scrubs

A nurse clad in black is a nurse you just don’t mess with. Not because she’s mean, per se, but perhaps because she can be a bit intimidating at times. She’s authoritative, efficient, and can take charge of any situation. She has the makings of a dignified and capable leader.

Orange Scrubs

Okay, so orange scrubs aren’t that common. We know that, and we’ll tell you why: Girls who’d choose orange scrubs usually don’t end up wearing scrubs at all. They’re curious, fun-loving party people who love drama and aren’t afraid of anything. Since they love happy, fun and easy jobs, and are often not as hardworking as others, they don’t usually opt for nursing as their career path in life.

Purple Scrubs

Purple scrub wearers are deep, dignified and more introverted. They are sometimes quite talented, with the ability to draw, paint, and play music. They have a reserved, dignified presence.

Green Scrubs

If your favorite colour is green, you are likely to lead an active public life. You are pretty intelligent and refreshingly kindhearted, and people feel calm and cared for around you.

 

Scrub colours don’t only provide clues to a nurse’s personality; they can also help nurses make the right impression, and can impact your behavior so that you’ll act more like a nurse who loves that colour. If you’d like to look the part of a calm and caring, intelligent nurse, go for green, and if you’re interested in letting your sweet, girly side shine through, think pink.

 

Choose the right colours and set the tone for a job well done!

 

 

 

 

Bio:

Paul Priceman is a passionate male nurse advocate both in his personal life and professionally with Murse World. Priceman works tirelessly works to promote male nurses in the US and worldwide. He is also involved in researching and writing about various different fascinating and intriguing healthcare related topics. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing in the winter, swimming in the summer and daydreaming all year round. 

What an incredible day! COLOURlovers color palette software is bringing you our best picks of color palettes that will take your breath away. Discover which color sets are most popular this season and will get more attention throughout the summer. From the most subtle to the most intimidating and boldest color shades, you can certainly find what goes best with your personality out of these amazing fifteen.

 

Peachy

 

Peachy colors often remind us of fluffy bridesmaids dresses, but peach inspired shades are hitting some serious scores in color trends this season. For truly summer colors, it is quite a phenomena that this palette is already popular in spring season around the world. As expected, peach shades are combined with subtle shades of green/yellow, since nature already puts them together so well.

#E2E7D3  #A7A993  #CDC2B0  #F36A46  #FFB288

https://www.colourlovers.com/palette/4648460/Peachy

 

Cherry Blossom

 

Spring of 2019 is full of flower based designs like every year. Cherry takes a special place in those designs this season, which makes cherry based palettes to rise to the very top of color trends. The color of the bright blue sky takes an important place, surrounded by shades of early and mature cherries, breaking the red with the just right tone.

#F48C8B  #9A8D84  #3E9DD3  #E7A7C1  #D1405F  #7F2133

 

Lavender Paradise

 

One thing we can make sure of, throughout history, some shade of purple will always be in highlight of the fashion industry. Purple colors trigger a feeling of intimacy, which is why this color often finds its way to our bedrooms and closets. Combined with the right green shade, yellow in this palette is young, bold and a very charming choice.

#E1D4DD  #CCABD8  #8474A1  #08979D  #055B5C

https://www.colourlovers.com/palette/4648461/Lavander_Paradise

 

Orchid Sweetness

 

Just like in most palettes on this list, this one plays with shades of red combined with light green, imitating the surface of the water. Every shade is subtle and inspires cuteness and virginity. It is perfect for interior design, as a background to everyday moments filled with joy.

#af83a4  #afc8ba  #e8b5b2  #edc5dc  #a4d4cb

https://www.colourlovers.com/palette/4648462/Orchid_Sweetness

 

Morning Meditation

 

Light and dark shades of red are serving as a base in this combination, for yellow and green patterns which makes this calm and noninvasive design for early mornings. These are the colors of smooth jazz, that makes a great tune for a busy day with a tight schedule, a real anti-stress palette for our intense lifestyles.

#F3F2E0  #F0D8CC  #ECB2B0  #776163  #87907D  #B6C9B3

 

Hippie Season

 

2019 teaches us that green is the most important color and that it goes well combined with almost anything. All of these pigments are vivid and vibrant, lifelike and intensive. Hippie Seasons shows us that life is precious, and springs are best used with finding pleasure in everything we do. These colors are quickly filling the windows of our favorite stores, while the contemporary architecture keeps up by giving these refreshments to our urban environments.

#1A9A8B  #57C165  #B05FA1  #D95B80  #04C8D6

https://www.colourlovers.com/palette/4648463/Hippie_Season

 

Subtle Blooming

 

Not so typical for a spring palette, this one is all about saying goodbye to frosty branches and waking the nature around us slowly. This color set is a lazy sleeper, it's waking up slowly, stretching in bed, and yawning all morning. It presents the perfect balance between winter and spring, and every color in it is tender and soft.

#4B4233  #9A9591  #A7ADAD  #DBBAB1  #C18086

https://www.colourlovers.com/palette/4648464/Subtle_Blooming

Gentle Mystery

 

Gentle Mystery is built from well-known color shades, designed to give the best experience to the viewer. The base is built from butterscotch, through a breathtaking smoke shade, with, sometimes underestimated, duck egg, all the way to the intriguing color of the emerald sea. This refined base is painted on with coral, the main trend in 2018/19, and sweet blush shade.

#FFB79F - coral  #F5D1C3 - blush  #F0BC68 - butterscotch  #AAB8BB - smoke  #C4D7D1 - duck egg  #5F9595 - emerald sea

 

Wild Nature

 

A reminder of the beauty of wildlife is a perfect intermezzo into the season of summer 2019. This palette reveals the magic of colorful nature around us, inspires us to be outdoors, clear our minds and rewind. The set of these colors also serves as a motivational quote, when being exposed to it daily. It improves the quality of our every day.

#F8F7FF  #DADBC9  #9DA5D6  #F9D9FF  #F787EB  #C234A0  #E59A61

 

Sugar

 

The gentlest of all palettes we had so far, this one is made of colors which melt in your mouth. This combination uncovers innocence, sweetness, play fullness and carefree lifestyle. You gotta love these candy colors, as this wonderful combination of yellow, pale turquoise, linen, and steel blue will make sure to awake the child within you.

#f7f6cf - yellow  #b6d8f2 - pale turquoise  #f4cfdf - linen  #5784ba - steel blue  #9ac8eb

https://www.colourlovers.com/palette/4648465/Sugar

 

Princess

 

Princess is a good example of how certain palettes depend on the content. When applied in winter seasons, this combination could easily be referred to as the Ice Queen, but in spring and summer, all the beauty and delicacy of this palette comes to the first plan. This palette is good for handling the heat, but also perfect for gloomy, rainy days.

#F8F8EE  #F2E5EE  #E9D0E6  #BEB3C4  #EAD5D4  #DDF1F0

 

Bold & Urban

 

If these colors could sing a song all together, it would be "Under the sea" from the "Little Mermaid" cartoon. These colors are warm, cheerful and strong, they make a statement when they walk into the room, bringing in good mood and ecstasy. This palette is also a combination of two best colors for this season - yellow and purple. Therefore, this set cannot possibly be a mistake.

#CFBAF5  #644892  #120A55  #E3DA51  #D7EE1A

https://www.colourlovers.com/palette/4648466/Bold_Urban

Early Bloom

 

If there was one color palette to describe Generation Z, Early Bloom would be the one. Early Bloom is an exotic flower which is opening its buds to the sun, ready to shine in all its glory. This set contains wild shades of red, yellow and blue, and so it is a wonderful mix of vibrant pigments which give it authenticity.

#0062A1  #379DAB  #FBB600  #C69682  #B41D6A

https://www.colourlovers.com/palette/4648467/Early_Bloom

Comic Tenderness

 

These are the true colors of playfulness, they set a good mood and laughter while evoking daintiness, and hitting our soft spot. This is the first time in a while that this combination is popular, and the window for it is not going to be long, so if you are looking for a short term change of your usual habits, this is a great combo for you.

#EDEDF9  #D8F8F3  #AEE5E8  #8787A3  #D6A7D1  #FFE0E8

 

Bee Wonderful

 

Spring 2019 comes with many curious trends, and one of them is a sudden explosion of yellow colors - they are everywhere around us, on the streets and in the magazines, on the internet and in the bars. Bees have become an uprising world trend as their extinction is becoming a bigger threat to us, so this palette is a small tribute to this cause.

#EDE6DC  #FFE401  #FEC202  #FFEDA1  #D59F00  #B27C32  #4E2513

 

What do you think of our choice? If you feel inspired by our palettes, go straight to COPASO to create your own set of colors for spring going on summer season 2019. Share your creations with us in the comment section below.

 

Written by: Nina Petrov

When it comes to selecting a suitable colour for your advertising signs there has to be consistency with your brand. But what colours should you go for when designing an advert that conveys your brand image and the product or service you are trying to promote?

 

Choosing the colour for your adverts not only depends on your brand image but also the audience you are trying to reach. It is important to remember that different colours mean different things in different cultures.

 

Like it or not, you will also have to bear in mind the traditional gender preferences for different colours. Colours that are thought of as ‘masculine’ are generally darker colours such as black, brown, blue, green whilst ‘feminine’ colours include pink, light red, light orange and yellow.

 

Factors Affecting Your Colour Choice

 

The colour you ultimately choose for your sign depends on the following factors:

 

• Consistency with your brand
• Target demographic (age, gender location)
• The surrounding environment
• The type of product/service that is being sold
• How far away the sign will be from the people viewing it

 

 

Understanding the Role of Culture in Colour

 

Although consistency with your brand and demographics are fairly straight forward for most organisations, understanding what colours mean in different cultures is more of a challenge.

 

Imagine using the colour yellow for a gift shop in Latin America where the colour in that region represents death or having a sign with someone’s name written in red in China is taboo.

 

Once you have considered all of the above factors then you can decide on the look and feel of your advert in regards to colour of both the background and any text elements of your sign.

 

Real Examples of Sign Colour Contrast

 

Take a look at the below examples of signs, the number below the text represents how visible the text is on certain backgrounds. We have shown some of the best colour combinations, but it isn’t hard to imagine how orange text on a red background would clash and be hard to read.

 

As can be seen the background and text font has a huge bearing on how people perceive the sign. The yellow background with red text gives out a sales image and the white background with grey text conveys are more important message. The red background with yellow text could indicate a warning.

 

The Psychology of Colour Choice

 

Choosing the right combination of colours is an art in itself.

 

But what are the psychology behind the colour of signs?

 

Setting aside cultural, gender and age differences, why do different colours indicate different things? Why can the choice of colour for an organisations logo or advert make or break an organisation?

 

The answer comes down to how we relate colour to certain things. Red and yellow in a restaurant can indicate fun and liveliness whilst a black and dark green restaurant could indicate expensive and high class.

 

Regardless of the type of large format print you want, the colours in addition to the design can make or break your business so plan for it carefully. Once the sign is out and the message is conveyed, it is difficult to make amends.

Kids’ rooms are always filled with toys, clothes, drawing supplies, and who knows how many other things. It is easy to see your children’s bedroom as the last room in your house you want to clean as you know that’s where the maximum chaos is. It doesn’t have to be this way, and many ideas will help you organize this space so that you don’t have to worry so much about keeping it clean.

 

Reduce the number of toys

Even if that may sound harsh, it is easy to notice how your kids prefer to play only with certain toys. There’s no point in keeping all of them, at least not in the same space. Just make sure to get rid of the unused toys without an audience so that you can avoid some unnecessary drama.

Don’t fill up every single space to the brim

Kids have a lot of stuff from clothes to toys, but this doesn’t mean that you should stuff everything in all the drawers and closet space available. It is not convenient to search for things that should be accessible by wading through a lot of unimportant things.

There is another advantage to consider here. If there are some empty spaces available, you will have room for new things. For instance, if you have a boy and you just bought a new microscope for his birthday, it is ideal to have a place for the new device in the room, instead of being forced to leave such a delicate item lying around on a table.

 

Get plenty of bins and baskets

If you feel like there’s never enough room for storing all the kids’ stuff, don’t start to fret about how you are going to fit it another closet inside their bedroom. Bins and baskets are ideal for keeping all kinds of things your kids use. They don’t take up a lot of space, and they are easy to use.

Also, when you need to de-clutter fast, you can grab a basket or a bin and fill it with all the stuff that seems to be lying on the floor, on the bed, on the table, and anywhere around you.

 

Keeps things of the same type together

This is a good idea if you’re trying to teach your kid the importance of being and staying organized. For instance, find a place for all the plush toys in the room. Use another for all the notebooks, and other supplies that are school related. Also, you must have a place for all the clothes so that they don’t end up on the floor.

Get your kids to help a little, and you will teach them how to keep their things organized. You can teach them how to fold their t-shirts, and how to organize their stuff on colors, and in other fun ways. Kids are fast learners, and sooner than you think, you might not have so much work to do to keep their room clean and free of clutter.

 

Opt for high-quality items

A good idea to keep a room clean is to reduce the number of things that go inside it. That doesn’t mean that you should feel guilty about depriving your kids of toys they like or anything similar. Instead of going for quantity, go for quality. This way, you will have fewer things to deal with.

 

A quick clean-up is in order before bedtime

Do it yourself, or have your kids to help, if they’re old enough. Clean up a little by putting things to their places just before bedtime. This way, there will be less work to do in the morning, when you might be in a hurry. Using this high-quality vacuum cleaner from Unclutterer will help you remove all dust from the kids room with minimal efforts.

Pets should be treated as full members of the family so, naturally, each decision you make regarding your house, also concerns them and their safety. If you decided to refresh the look of your interior and are considering a paint job, you need to make sure your pets won’t be affected by the change.

Here are the most common problems you might encounter while painting your house and dealing with the animals inside it and, most importantly, how to handle them properly.

 

Stress

No matter if you opt for painting contractors or decide to do it on your own, there is a level of stress and discomfort your pets will feel. Consider the mess you are creating in the entire house, including the furniture moved away from the walls, the cabinets taken down, and the overall amount of dust and debris you will cause.

All these will naturally affect your pets, especially if we’re talking about cats and dogs. These animals are territorial and don’t handle changes too well when it comes to their habitats. Keep in mind that there will be some strangers entering your house, making noise, and generally disturbing your pets’ habitat, which will lead to stressful situations.

 

Choking hazards

Painting the interior of the house will inevitably lead to a general disaster that might last for weeks, and this includes paint cans, brushes, racks, chairs, loose screws, cords, and others. Each one of these elements possesses a choking hazard for pets roaming around, so you may also want to consider this before renovating your home.

 

Toxic fumes

Another thing to worry about is the potentially dangerous composition of the paints and all the toxic fumes that go out once you open a can of paint. And, while you can easily wear a mask to avoid irritations, your pet may not be able to do the same, which exposes them to health risks.

 

Quality problems

Not even finding the perfect collar and leash for your pet won’t keep them away from trouble, especially in a freshly painted home. They can brush against the wall or tip over a can of paint accidentally, which will cost you plenty of time and money to repair.

 

How to solve these problems

Although the animals don’t mean it, accidents can happen, and this is why you should be prepared for these situations.

There are plenty of things you can do, starting with placing your pets in another area of the house where they don’t have access to brushes or wet walls. Make sure to relocate their crib too, alongside all their favorite accessories, including chewing toys, litter boxes, bedding, and food bowls.

If you’re planning on repainting the entire house at once, it would be best to find a temporary home for your pets. Try talking to your relatives or friends about hosting the animals for a short while, until you finish remodeling. If none of them lives close by, you can look for pet daycares or pet shops that are willing to host your furry friends for a fee.

If they are still allowed to visit and check on the painting progress, make sure the house and all the freshly-painted walls are pet-proof.

Allow the paint to dry for a couple of days until the smell wears off and keep your animals close to you at all times. If we’re talking about dogs, cats or other small furry animals, don’t let them near the painted walls to prevent unwanted tracks of paint all over the carpets, floors, and furniture.

The Cultural Differences of Design in Different Countries

Designs keep changing, and for a designer, trends, principles, requirements of clients, and culture overall play significance in determining what people appreciate today and what they may reject tomorrow. When it comes to culture, many would agree that a design element that gets accepted in India may not always be a good idea in a European country. In this article, you will find out why it is often the case. We’ve dissected into major world cultures and how they impact the work of visual creators.

Some students are also given tasks to write on this or a similar topic. However, whether you are looking up some information to complete your piece, or just researching for job purposes, here’s a quick list of questions you need to answer before you get down to work:

• How does visual communication vary from one country to another?
• How do cultural differences from one country to another influence the work of creators?
• Are there any common colors applicable to different countries?
• How do font types vary from one country to another?

In fact, these questions can go on and on. To make it easier, you  can find a reliable, professional paper writing service that can help you with drawing up important design concepts for your paper, or do even a more comprehensive research for you, in case  it’s been quite a while since your graduation. All in all, you need a decent plan and a visualization of artistic creations if you want to complete the task successfully.

Now, with respect to cultural influences on design, it is important that visual artists take note of nuances such as religion, values and colors. Think about it this way. Are there religious restrictions that would limit a designer’s creativity when designing, for example, a logo?  Also, would the use of certain symbols be regarded as offensive?

Understanding major cultures and design trends

Whichever way you look at it, color is a de facto design principle/element all over the world. Whether in traditional or modern design, you will always find color denoting some sort of culture. However, before a designer can settle on color choices to use in creating an artwork, it is imperative that he or she zeros into how cultural nuances of a country influences visual artistry.

At this point, let’s explore a few elements specific to certain cultures and how they vary from each other.

Design in Europe

Europe is a continent of many cultures, and there is no doubt such variations play significance in influencing modern design trends. From art, literature, music to architecture, you will need to understand what transpires in a member country before deciding on the appropriate color, line, shape or fonts to use in a logo, drawing or any other type of visual art.

For many years, European culture transitioned through many phases to modern-day art. It means you’ve got to think about Prehistoric art, Medieval, Classical, Baroque, Mannerism, Renaissance, Neoclassical, Rococo, Realism and Romanticism before figuring out the best design for a client.

It is because while someone would relish over retro artwork depicting the age of Romanticism, another would want a creator to factor in modern-day design trends such as emoticons. It is always about providing a client with a design service that resonates well with their tastes or ascription.

The Meaning of Color in Japan

A walk down the history of a country is one way to go about national colors and what they symbolize. But depending on the purpose, for which you are hired to create an artwork, designers must also take note of meanings colors manifest in a deeper sense. In Japanese culture, for example, blue color means cool, fidelity and passiveness.

It would also interest you to note that Japanese regard blue as the color of luck. While times may have changed, color traditions remain deeply entrenched in the country’s quest for posterity.  You will often notice blue in dresses such as office wear and in attires adorned by fresh graduates during their first job interviews. Other colors, which bear the same meaning as blue are yellow, purple, red and green.

Indian cultural nuances

The big question is this, “How does the culture of India impact design?” Well, India is richly endowed with colorful cultures, most of which date back to centuries ago. That is not to mention that for a long time now, the graphic design landscape in India always gets shaped by religious mannerisms. The country is home to some of the oldest religions, namely Jainism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism.

All in all, it would interest you to note that culture and design are inseparable entities in India. Talk about bold colors, shapes or fine lines and you will always notice them on temple walls, sari apparel, graffiti, and signposts and among other places. In a nutshell, creators targeting clients from this part of the world should always emphasize color prominence.

Final Words

Culture, according to studies, is a collective view of a people, cultivated behavior and learned experiences. Whether through social interactions and any other form of association, culture remains an overarching factor in the work of designers, even in the unforeseeable future.