Instructional design/Color Selection for Message Design/Unit4 Effects

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Color Selection for Message Design

Introduction

Unit 1 High- and Low-Keyed Colors

Unit 2 Warm and Cool Colors

Unit 3 Color Combinations

Unit 4 Psychology of Colors

Final Exam!

Psychological Effects of Colors[edit | edit source]

So far, you have learned general effects of high-/low-keyed colors, and warm and cool colors. You also learned the effects made by various color combinations. In Unit 4, you will learn moods and meanings carried by specific colors.

Red[edit | edit source]

Powerful[edit | edit source]

Red car 1449 Todaiji11s3200

The color of red gives a powerful feeling and could be useful when you want to impress people.

Happy[edit | edit source]

Her Flying Red Shoes (Explored) (7124561035) Happy new year 06463

Red color is also associated with the sense of happiness. Specifically, red is a Christmas color as well as color for festivals in Asian cultures.

Dangerous[edit | edit source]

LOC unattributed Ground Zero photos, September 11, 2001 - item 064 Defense.gov photo essay 100914-F-6350L-023

People naturally perceive red as a color of danger, probably because it is the color of blood or fire. You can use red when you are creating warning message.

Orange[edit | edit source]

Energetic[edit | edit source]

Large Tortoiseshell

Orange makes you feel the sense of energy. You can use orange, for example, when you are writing an article about the vitality of a moth.

Festive[edit | edit source]

Cariwest Parade 2013 Christmas Decorations in Funchal

Orange also gives a happy and friendly feeling. The color is often associated with festivals.

Warm[edit | edit source]

Christmas decorations 2010 (2) Christmas decorations (2)

Orange is the color of fire and thus conveys warm a feeling. The color would especially attract people in a cold winter.

Yellow[edit | edit source]

Sacred[edit | edit source]

Interior Jeronimos Wycliffecollege toronto chapel1

Because yellow looks similar to gold, it is often associated with sacredness. Notice both the pictures use gold yellows.

Novel[edit | edit source]

SupercarSunday-74 - Flickr - Moto@Club4AG Café literario Novelty Plaza Mayor Salamanca

By using bright yellow, you can create something unique and new looking. Such yellow makes the object strongly standout from other objects.

Cheerful[edit | edit source]

Shell Service Station-WS NC

Yellows is also perceived as cheerful. When you want to create a happy feeling, you can consider using yellow too.

Green[edit | edit source]

Growing[edit | edit source]

Agricultural grass

Green color is associated with the energy of plants and carries the feeling of growth. While red represents temporal strong energy, green conveys long-lasting, gradual energy.

Fresh[edit | edit source]

Dark Prong Growing (2605652202)

Because green leafs are usually young leafs, green color also convey the message of freshness and youngness.

Healthy[edit | edit source]

La Magia de una sonrisa Swing of Smile

Because greens are associated with freshness and youngness, they also convey the feeling of healthiness.

Blue[edit | edit source]

Calm[edit | edit source]

4224 - Thun - Flowers Arrábida (4487002715)

Blue has the sense of serenity. Especially pale blues can combine also with the effects of high-keyed colors and make a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

Dependable[edit | edit source]

Bjarne-stroustrup Presentation (9468918134)

Blue is the color used in various professional settings and perceived as the color of trustworthiness.

Depressing[edit | edit source]

Cold lake II Meander in the Bay shallows at low tide. (8500312368)

Dark blues, combined with the effects of low-keyed colors, could create a negative atmosphere.

Violet[edit | edit source]

Sorrow[edit | edit source]

Sheet Lightning over Mt Wellington

Violet is another color that could create a depressing atmosphere. Because it is a cool color, it tends to absorb rather than evoke energy.

Nostalgic[edit | edit source]

Dark sunset Jacaranda1212

Violet is also said to invoke a sentimental feeling. As low-keyed violet carries rather negative feelings, you want to be careful about the key of violet when you intend to create the nostalgic feeling.

Spiritual[edit | edit source]

Church interior Amethyst

Violet is a unique color associated with spiritual beings or supernatural powers. When you want to make a mysterious atmosphere, consider using violet.

White[edit | edit source]

Purity[edit | edit source]

White flower blooming Behind bridal veil falls

White contains none of red, blue, or yellow, thus, it is uncontaminated and pure. Brides tend to wear white dresses as symbols of purity.

Trustworthy[edit | edit source]

M3 Study Room 01 Dentist assistants

The uncontaminated and clean character of white make the color a symbol of trustworthiness. The white color is often associated with medical practices.

Bland[edit | edit source]

Snow in Neasden, London 1 Riders Lane Rec - geograph.org.uk - 701721

As white does not have any color, it could be perceived as boring too. Especially gray whites, combined with the effects of low-keyed color, could convey a cold or sad atmosphere.

Black[edit | edit source]

Sorrow[edit | edit source]

Sad Grandma Serious woman

Black is the darkest low-keyed color and it displays the effects of low-keyed colors very strongly. In general, black carries negative feelings and atmosphere.

Death[edit | edit source]

LOC unattributed Ground Zero photos, September 11, 2001 - item 064 Bundesarchiv Bild 102-08129, Borsigwalde, Explosion von Sauerstoff-Flaschen

Black is also associated with death. While whites are also associated with death, it tends to be associated with funeral rather than death itself. Also, in Asian cultures, black is the color for the funeral.

Elite[edit | edit source]

Indonesian President Yudhoyono, British Prime Minister David Cameron and International Development Secretary Justine Greening (8145398272) Anne Richard from the US State Department addresses the meeting (10840243183)

While black is generally associated with negative things, it is also associated with eliteness and intelligence. This is probably because people tend to be expected to wear a black suit in formal settings.

Brown[edit | edit source]

Dirty[edit | edit source]

Flooded pony corral (6094144906) Mississippi Chickasaw storage facility (5736775931)

In terms of its effects, brown could be considered the opposite color of white. While white is a color of cleanness, browns are colors of contamination.

Bare[edit | edit source]

Professionals Valley Fire Dune avalanche DeathValley

Because the earth color is brown, the color of brown is associated with bareness. Accordingly, it also conveys the feeling of wildness.

Poor[edit | edit source]

Barefoot on red dirt Food security, Indonesia (10695853234)

As brown represents both dirtiness and bareness, it also produces the message of poverty. You would notice lots of pictures about poverty consist of the color of brown.

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