Using Colors in Web Design - Effective & Attractive Web LayoutsWe believe that there are three primary components in successful web design and strong Internet presence: color, order and form. Here we demonstrate how colors can contribute to create effective and attractive web layouts.
Is color really so important? Well, in a recent survey, almost 40% of American car buyers stated that they would change any car brand if they cannot get a car colored on their choice! Conclusion: the color really matters!. We, at Conqueror Web Design, believe that color is one of the most important factors to influence the website viewers. On the web are present many sites with very creative layouts and cutting edge functionalities. Still, if the colors are not chosen right, visitors could have a negative perception about it! We know that colors have an overwhelming impact on website viewers and as result the best advice we can give to any web designer is to choose it very carefully! It is the design element that most often determines the success or fail of a web site!
The best way to learn how to use right the colors is by studying fine art because the great artists are masters of manipulating the emotions through color. Many of the principles they use can be applied to web design. Well chosen nuances can in subtle ways invite the viewer to respond positive, while the wrong shades can push him away! Any professional web designer makes sure that the mood he set up is right for the audience of the site!
Fire red, sky blue, mint green . . . these colors have distinct personalities and touch the emotions in different ways. Fire red generates a feeling of excitement, speed and dangerous beauty. Sky blue brings in mind images of a clear sunny day, a pristine lake or a sensation of freshness. A single color can bring back memories that have emotional value to people because color has personality and this characteristic can be used by web designers to "touch" the hearts of potential customers!
We consider color one of three main keys of professional web design. In fact, the basics of good web design are color, order and form and the color is the most important element to touch the emotions of the viewer. Despite of this fact, colors are ingredients that web designers often use into a wrong way. When it are unsuitable or confusing will be rejected by visitor's eyes along with the products or services presented in the site!
Color is symbolism. Someone who is jealous is said is "green" while someone who is sad is said is "blue". When we are angry, we see "red". So, colors affect psychologically all people. They can stimulate the appetite or suppress it. They can make people happy, excited, angry or sad. Let's take a look at colors and what they mean to Internet surfers.
Warm Colors
Red is one of the most powerful and attention-getting colors. Red symbolizes passion and fire, love and lust. It raises the blood pressure and can cause perspiration! Red reflects energy and can motivate an individual to take action. It can also symbolize war, violence and aggression.
Pink is the softer side of red. Pink is considered romantic, calming and feminine.
Vibrant and warm, orange is associated with autumn, pumpkins and Halloween. It inherits many of the characteristics of red, but is less passionate. Orange stimulates the appetite and being a citrus color can also symbolize health.
Yellow symbolizes sunshine and warmth. It can mean hope, light and energy. On the other hand, it can meaning weakness or illness or symbolize cowardice.
Cold Colors
Green signifies health, growth (vegetation) and wealth (money). Green symbolizes spring, renewal, and fertility, but can also meaning jealousy or inexperience.
Blue is one of the most calming colors and is associated with the sky and the sea. It is considered a "safe" color and signifies intelligence, reassurance and trust. Blue is considered an appetite suppressant and can signify depression and sadness.
Combination of red and blue, purple is one of the most intriguing colors and symbolizes creativity. Purple is spiritual and mysterious and as result deep purple is associated with royalty and richness, while lavender is associated with romance and nostalgia.
Neutral Colors
Black can representing power, elegance, and sophistication, but it can also representing death (in the Western culture), evil, anger and sadness.
White represents cleanliness, purity, and spirituality. It represents life and marriage in Western cultures, while in Eastern cultures represents death.
Grey is the combination of black and white. It is a conservative color. Grey can symbolize security, maturity and reliability, but it can also signify gloominess and sadness.
We like to classify brown as a "special" color. Sometimes brown can be used as a neutral and other times as a warm color. However, brown represents credibility and stability, the home and the earth.