So much of what we interact with daily has to do with color. Traffic lights have colored signals letting you know when to proceed, yield, and stop, different teams on a playing field wear different colored uniforms to help the viewer differentiate between the two distinct sides, and even when cooking, you can use color to determine if something is overcooked, undercooked, fresh, or rotten. Sight cues make up a remarkably unnoticed amount of things in our world, and their use in digital marketing and design is no exception.
When you’re building your brand, you’re going to look at a lot of swatches to determine which colors work best for you. The right combination of colors will highlight the strongest parts of your organization, which a bad color palette can actually drive customers away.
It’s that important.
So what are the key things you need to know to avoid color missteps? To not only find the colors that will make your organization visually appealing, but to implement them in the right way that isn’t too much or too little. As always, our expert designers are ready to be your light in the fog. Here are some of our best practices that will help your brand look its best!
Harmonious Coloring
In order to find which colors work for you, you need to learn which colors work together. Here are a few of the rules that determine which colors are going to synergize with others:
Monochrome to the Bone
Who says you need to have multiple colors to make a color palette? A monochromatic color palette uses just one color with varying tones. You want your page to be green? It can be! Play with the various shades and find what looks good. Make sure you have dark and light versions of green so you get that contrast you need!
Just Colors Being Neighborly
If you’re creating assets that don’t need a lot of contrast, but you still want that zing that comes from a spiffy color combo, then look no further than the color next door! Analogous colors are right next to each other on the color wheel, and while they’re not going to stand out from each other, they can make a really lovely combination of colors in the hands of a skilled designer!
My Complements to the Designer
When you look at a color wheel, you can find a complementary color by looking at the color you want to use and seeing which color is directly across from it on the wheel itself. When you utilize complimentary colors, you’ve creative palettes that are high contrast and catch the eye of anyone fortunate enough to receive your email or visit your landing page.
Give it a Tri
If you’re looking to add more color and give your palette more range, look no further than a triadic scheme. This is a color scheme based on 3 colors that are equidistant on the color wheel. Colors in those positions will generally play well together, but it’s still good practice to select one color as the primary, and let the other two be accents. It reduces the risk of the colors being clashy and abrasive.
60-30-10
We know what you read our blogs for: Math! Listen, we know not everyone is a fan of math, but when it comes to UI design and color rules, this one is a doozy.
The 60-30-10 rule is a kind of guideline used in graphic design to create visual balance and cohesion. Basically, it says that 60% of your assets should be created using a single dominant color, 30% with your secondary color of choice, and the final 10% with an accent color. Too much of any one or too little of another, and you lose your color harmony and balance. But if you abide by the 60-30-10 rule, it makes it easier to introduce new elements without visual disruption. It can also be used to create focal points and highlight certain design features like your CTA. This is a good ratio. Embrace the ratio.
Three is the Magic Number
Who doesn’t love colors? Everyone at SaleslabX is a huge fan of color, from ROY to G to BIV! However, we also know when to hold back. When building your perfect color palette, you’re going to want to keep the number of colors you use to between 2 and 3. Any more than that, you risk losing the color harmony you’re aiming for.
