Week 5

COLOUR AS A THOUGHT PROCESS:

  • Generic “idea” diagram
  • Filtered “colours” diagram
  • Focused “colour psychology” diagram
These spider diagrams have made me realise that I am interested in the psychology of colours, and how colours are used within design. I have began to explore the emotional impact of colour when it is viewed and how colours can represent/suggest alternative ideas.

How was colour formed?
“The mineral colors include a catchall grouping of “earths” as well as manufactured colors made from such ores as cobalt, copper, manganese, mercury, and lead. The largest subgroup of earths was ochers, colors formed from iron oxides. Red, yellow, and brown colors were typical, but greens and blues derived from copper deposits were also familiar” Source

Here, Lowengard explains how colours were sourced In the 18th century. This is not to say when they were first discovered, after all the Egyptians are well recognised for grinding down Lapis Lazuli to achieve Royal Blue. I have found this article very interesting and have found a lot of useful information in regards to where colour has been sourced.

Where did colour theory begin?

Richard Waller’s basic chart, one of the earliest colour theory charts dating back to 1686.

This table is one of the earliest known color charts. Waller created it as a tool for describing plants and animals. Collectors and scientists could compare their specimens to this table and use the names provided to identify the colors of leaves, bark, flowers, feathers, plants, and animals. Source

Claude Boutet’s Painter Circle, 1708, based off Sir Isaac Newton’s colour theory
Looking at the contemporary colour wheel. I have learnt that I can use three colours from the colour wheel, and as long as they are ‘equidistant’ then the colours will collaborate effectively! This is something I will consider when using colour palettes in future.

how do people see colour who are colourblind?

Fascinating examples of how people view images/the world when suffering from colour-blindness. Source

It’s amazing to see how colour can affect someone with colour blindness and I have been intrigued to see how a blind person would associate colour with the world. I have found a video which sheds some light on this:

Tommy Edison demonstrates how colour is described through connotations, i.e : “seeing red” means being angry, or “fire” is red.

Tommy mentioning how colours are associated with words really highlights how powerful language can be and how colours have a psychological role in the way we think.

This has got me thinking about my final line process – it seems as a rule that the darker the colour, the more we associate it with bad things. The lighter the colour, the more we associate that with being good.

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