Design elements - Colour
Design elements - Colour
About Colour
Colour is a visual sensation produced by light.
Colour is usually identified by its name. For example:
• red
• green
• blue.
Design elements - Colour
Colour wheel
Design elements - Colour
Primary colours cannot be mixed from other colours.
Primary colours are:
Design elements - Colour
Two primary colours mixed together produce a
secondary colour.
Design elements - Colour
Tone in colour
Adding black or white to a colour will produce a
gradation of that colour.
Design elements - Tone
Gradations of colour
can produce the illusion
of three-dimensional
form.
Design elements - Colour
Harmonious colour
Colours that are side by side on
the colour wheel are described as
harmonious. For example, orange
is harmonious with red because
orange has red in it.
Design elements - Colour
Complementary colour
When two primary
colours are mixed
together to form a
secondary colour,
the remaining
primary colour will
be complementary
to that secondary
colour.
Design elements - Colour
Complementary colour
Design elements - Colour
Complementary colour
When
complementary
colours appear side
by side, they
intensify each other.
Design elements - Colour
Colour wheel
Complementary colour
Complementary colours
are opposed to each other
on the colour wheel.
For example;
When these colours are
placed together they create
a complimentary contrast
and offer the greatest
brightness of each colour.
Design elements - Colour
Colour can serve many design needs
Colour can be used to represent:
• objects
• people
• places
• ideas
in descriptive or symbolic ways.
Design elements - Colour
Colour can be used
to describe the
appearance of an
object or a person,
for example, the
colour of a flower or
the colour of a
person’s skin or
clothes.
Design elements - Colour
Colour can be used
as a symbol for
words and numbers.
Design elements - Colour
Colour can be used
as a symbol to
represent numeric
information.
Design elements - Colour
Colour can communicate
Colour can suggest:
• emotions
• feelings
• ideas.
Design elements - Colour
Colours such as red,
orange and yellow
can create an illusion
of warmth.
Design elements - Colour
Colours such as
blue, green and
purple can create an
illusion of coolness.
Design elements - Colour
Bright
complementary
schemes can
suggest energy,
loudness,
excitement and
action.
Design elements - Colour
Pale colours can
suggest stillness,
quietness, peace and
calm.
Design elements - Colour
Harmonious colours
can suggest peace
and calm.
Design elements - Colour
Some colours are
strongly associated
with emotions or
feelings. For
example, red is often
associated with
passion or anger.
Design elements - Colour
Blue and white are
often associated with
cleanliness and
purity.
Design elements - Colour
Black may be
associated with
death. Personal
experiences and
cultural background
can influence the way
an individual
responds to colour.
Design elements - Colour
Colour can appeal to our senses
Design elements - Colour
Colour can appeal
to our sense of
taste.
Design elements - Colour
Colour can create
visual effects or
patterns.
Design elements - Colour
Colour can suggest
space. Warm colours
tend to appear
closer, while cool
colours tend to
appear further away.
Design elements - Colour
Colour can be functional
Symbolic colour can
help communicate
meaning.
Design elements - Colour
Darker colours may
appear closer, while
lighter colours may
appear to recede.
Design elements - Colour
Colour worksheet
Teacher introduction (DOC) (PDF)
Student worksheet (DOC) (PDF)