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 & grayed-
down 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.

We'll do the same for you.

Questions?