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Colors in
Web Design
Colors are
everywhere around us. Colors capture our
attention, can amplify our emotions, fend
off or attract us, displease or tempt. It's
pretty much the same in the virtual world of
web design.
In regards
to the colors used on a website, it is
usually advised not to use more than three
colors. The choice of the colors has to
correspond with the colors of the
organization (in particular with the logo)
and to express a particular environment. The
colors have an implicit symbolic system. It
is therefore important to choose them with
full knowledge of the facts. Indeed, the
colors influence the behavior of the humans:
-
Physically: appetite, sleep, temperature of
the body, etc.
-
Emotionally: feeling of fear, safety, joy,
etc.
-
Psychologically: dynamism, concentration,
etc.
The table
below recapitulates the significance
classically associated with the colors:
|
Color |
Positive symbolic
system |
Pejorative symbolic
system |
Field |
|
Blue |
Calm, Confidence, Authorization,
Soothing, Serenity, Protection,
Serious, Mystical, Kindness, Water,
Space, Peace |
Cold, Sleep |
New Technologies, Information
Technology, Medicine |
|
Purple |
Delicacy, Passion, Discretion,
Modesty, Religion |
Melancholy, Sadness, Mourning,
Dissatisfaction |
Culture, Politics |
|
Pink |
Charm, Intimacy, Woman, Beauty |
Naivety |
Diary, Women |
|
Red |
Heat, Force, Courage, Dynamism,
Triumph, Love, Enthusiasm |
Violence, Anger, Danger, Urgency,
Prohibited, Blood, Hell |
Luxury, Fashion, Sport, Marketing,
Media |
|
Orange |
Comfort, Glory, Happiness, Richness,
Honor, Pleasure, Fruit, Odor,
Energizing, Vitality |
Fire, Alertness |
Entertainment, Sport, Travel |
|
Yellow |
Light, Cheerfulness, Sun, Life,
Power, Dignity, Gold, Richness,
Immortality |
Fraud, Selfishness, Jealousy,
Arrogance, Alertness |
Tourism |
|
Green |
Nature, Vegetable Life, Balance,
Faith, Soothing, Rest, Confidence,
Tolerance, Hope, Pride, Youth,
Charity |
|
Discovery, Nature, Travel, Education |
|
Brown |
Calmness, Philosophy, Soil |
Dirtiness |
Environment |
|
White |
Purity, Innocence, Snow,
Cleanliness, Freshness, Richness |
|
Fashion, Current events |
|
Gray |
Neutrality, Respect |
|
Design, Non-profit organizations |
|
Black |
Sobriety, Luxury, Night |
Dead, Darkness, Sadness, Monotony |
Cinema, Art, Photography, Prohibited |
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