Colour Theory

Colour theory achieves a logical structure for colour and it is used to portray emotions in order to relate to the target audience. It satisfies the visual effects of a specific colour combination in order to seamlessly demonstrate set things. Colours in themselves can convey emotion, consistency and also help set a mood, demonstrating the importance of it. Colour theory is mainly used in media within newspapers, magazines and adverts where colour is necessary for it to succeed.

Prominent research was done by Joe Hallock in 2003 and Malamed in 2011. However, Sir Isaac Newton (1706), developed the concept of refraction, developing further into the colour wheel ordeal. Johann Wolfgang Van Goethe added physiological meaning to the colour wheel and over time more research and more research has evolved it into what it is today.

Complementary - Opposite colours in the colour wheel

Split Complementary - Variation of the complementary colour scheme

Analogues - Group of 3 colours that are next to each other in the colour wheel

Triad - Uses colours that are evenly spaced around the colour wheel

Tetradic - Uses 4 colours arranged into 2 complementary pairs

Monochromatic - Containing only 1 colour

I then visited a website called www.color.method.ac.uk in which I tested my understanding of each colour theory and put it into practice by matching the theory to different colour scheme. 8.2 was what I scored overall, but I did find it very interesting.

Personal Meanings of colours:

Black - Fashion, sophistication, mystery

To me a product I think of with the thought of black is shoes. I imagine a strong, independent, empowered woman walking down the street in a pair of jet black shoes. Black doesn't have to be a sad colour, it can be alternatively a strong and sophisticated colour.

White - Purity, light, security, cleanliness

A product I think of when imagining the colour white is soap, basic, simple, bog-standard soap. This is because no matter how many times it has been used it still retains a bright white. White also represents cleanliness and soap is a cleaner.

Grey - Maturity, strength, stability

To me grey represents modernisation and maturity. A way I often interpret this is by techn ology. I immediately think of a laptop due to the fact that they are a clean, basic colour but because of this they can relate to anybody.

Yellow - Sun, Summer, Energy

The colour yellow represents sun, summer and happiness. The object which best symbolises all of these attributes to me is a blossoming flower.

Green - Life, Growth, Activity

Green suggests a lively, healthy and growing environment to me. I best suit this colour with meadows as they are home to a variation of shades of green and life thrives there.

Pink - Beauty, love, sensitivity

To me pink is best described as a sensitive, humble colour which presents beauty. It is a very pretty colour therefore I naturally link it to makeup.