After doing a lot of research online I have come up with 5 main points which then branch into the separate colours of text.
- Different colours mean different things to different cultures and people. For example red is lucky in China while in South Africa it is a sad colour. In America it could symbolize love or passion. This basically means it is important to know you're target audience, or at least the general stereotype who would be attending the exhibit.
- Age affects the colours used in designs. If you're target audience was children aged 0-12, very bright colours, mainly primary colours of red, green, blue and yellow would be used to grab a hold of the kids attention.
- Most adults prefer more unsaturated colours, which include colours which include grey in their primary makeup. For example pastille colours which are soft and dull to look at.
- Gender also affects the choice in colours we like. Most men would prefer colours such as greens and blues, where as women prefer reds and oranges.
- Work class men and women like the colours green, red and blue, where as highly educated people tend to like more obscure colour such as mauve, and taupe.
More specific colour preferences:
Blue:
Blue is the most liked colour for graphics and text on the internet and in books and magazines. This is a description of the colour blue:
"Deep blues create a feeling of the ether, a mysterious and enchanting space that rolls out to the very edges of the imperceptible" Nuttall, Roger. Psychology color marketing. http://www.web-design-uk.biz/web_design/psychology_color_marketing.htm
Green:
Green makes gives off a feeling of warming and harmony, and stability. It signifies nature and renewal.
Purple:
Mysterious purple comes next. Purple is associated with nobility and spirituality, power, luxury and creativity.
Orange:
Orange, a color that symbolizes comfort, creativity, celebration, fun, youth, afford-ability and warmth.
Brown:
Brown is earthy, natural, primitive and simple. But it can also seem dirty and dark.
Black:
Black is the negation of color itself. It can represent power, darkness, intrigue, depth, as well as seriousness, darkness, mystery and secrecy.
Grey:
Gray seems to be as popular a color for web design as blue. Gray is non-committal. It is a neutral, balanced color – cool and conservative.
For the main colour of the text I think the best to choose would be blue, based on the information displayed above. For a background colour either white or gray would mean that the blue text could be seen clearly.
References:
Hi Martin. Glad to know you started your research related to colour. Interesting observations that, I think, could be of use for your show. However, you just wrote them but didn't consider how you are going to apply this knowledge. Based in what you found related to colour, what colours would you use that would be easy to read, related to the two concepts you decided to work on? Where is your testing? Are you directing your exhibition to children, men,women? Based in that, what colours would you use? What you have to consider in application of colour in typo is: firstly- and most important if it's easy to read, second- if it's related to your concept (colours you will use in the exhibition, lighting, type of visitor, etc.) and third- does it work with the typo style you chose. Have you thought about all this? If you haven't, I think you should start and based in that start also experimenting with colours selected and typos selected. Mix them and see what happens and don't forget to test them. Print them out and ask people what they think.
ReplyDeleteAnother important point: Where is your CV and card? Haven't seen any work related to that and we're already in week 4. I strongly suggest you to start working in that and put it here this week so I can have a look at it. See you on Thursday and good luck with your presentation!