By Roberta Schlehr

We learn about color at an early age, the basic primary colors, are red, yellow, and blue. We learn how to color a picture with crayons of many different colors. Some children color traditionally, what we would expect to see – blue sky, green grass, brown dog. Some children have more of a creative side and maybe their dog is purple with an orange sky and pink grass. Either way, color influences the way we think, the way we feel, and even the way we dress.

As a graphic designer and an instructor for graphic communications, I see color based on the purpose – is the end product going to be for print or is it going to be used digitally? What is the message we are trying to convey? Does the color palette work – is it for a pediatric office or a high-end restaurant? Let’s come back to this question and first address the final use of the product being created. There are two main color modes that we refer to in our industry – CMYK and RGB. Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black – four process color is used for traditional printing, and Red, Green, and Blue is used for monitors and televisions. Although, technology has a way of changing and the new presses and digital presses have more colors than I have indicated.

Let’s get back to the type of project you may be working on – the pediatric doctor’s office. There is a clue in the first sentence referring to the primary colors! Yes, the primary colors are a great place to start as we associate these colors with children. It is important to know the type of business, who are the customers, and the message to express. The restaurant may use a color palette of what is considered sophisticated – gold, and silver with a splash of maroon. Take a look around – what message do you see in the colors? What are the color trends influencing our wardrobes, homes, and even hair color?

Colors may affect your mood, restaurants use color schemes to create different atmospheres and colors can relate on a spiritual level, too!

Explore the colors all around you! Color is associated with many topics, just a few are mentioned here in the graph above. Go to a bookstore and find books about the psychology of color, color in art, and color in fashion. It is a fascinating topic.

What do the colors say about you?