Graphic design is all about making something look nice and appealing, as well as professional and inviting. When you print something, you want it to be rooted in quality graphic design because the end outcome is going to be indicative of the message you’re trying to send. And while it’s true that professional quality graphic design is going to elicit its own response, what you might not realize is that the colors you’re using are also going to provoke a response.
Color theory is something that has been a fundamental component of professional design for decades. Basically, it’s the study of how people react to certain colors and color combination and why we feel a certain way when we look at certain colors. This is a tremendously important point when it comes to graphic design in Sausalito because if your color options aren’t sending the message you want them to, you might be working against yourself!
How does that make you feel?
Color theory is one of those things that graphic designers love to debate because it affects every person differently; someone who sees the color blue as welcoming and happy might not agree with someone else who finds it cold and off-putting! What’s not up for debate, however, is the fact that due to the incorporation of color into staple brands and advertising materials, today’s media-heavy societies do tend to make subconscious color associations.
Take a look at some examples of color associations with today’s mega-brands and what the commonly held belief is when it comes to correlating colors with messages:
- White is considered to be a clean color, representing purity and uncomplicatedness. A great example of this can be seen in Apple’s brand, which tends to be a very simple white apple shape.
- Red is frequently associated with adrenaline, power and action, giving people a can-do attitude. Look at Red Bull or Target, for example: they have very motivating feelings to them, despite being two completely different industries!
- Blue is actually a great inspiration for feelings like authority, safety and intelligence. Take a look at Chase Bank’s logo or Twitter’s color scheme to see this color in action.
The list goes on and on, to encompass every other basic color in the color wheel. It’s no coincidence that brands pick their colors based on how they want people to feel about them and when it comes to graphic design in Sausalito, this is where those colors are put into action!
Pondering colors
If you’re pondering what colors are right for your business, the best thing you can do is speak with a graphic designer. As mentioned above, nearly every professional designer is going to have a grasp on color theory and will be able to point you in the right direction when it comes to picking colors and using them to your advantage.
If you want your customers to see you as a respected resource for information, or you want them to take action upon receiving your advertisement, mention these things to a graphic designer and don’t be surprised if they come back to you with beautiful and applicable color palates in your next professionally-design piece!