Instructional design/Color Selection for Message Design/Unit4 Effects

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Introduction

Unit 1 High- and Low-Keyed Colors
 * Definition
 * Effects
 * Quiz
 * Scenario Quiz

Unit 2 Warm and Cool Colors
 * Definition
 * Effects
 * Quiz
 * Scenario Quiz

Unit 3 Color Combinations
 * Definition
 * Effects
 * Quiz
 * Scenario Quiz

Unit 4 Psychology of Colors
 * Effects
 * Quiz
 * Scenario Quiz

Final Exam!
 * Final Exam
 * Summary


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Psychological Effects of Colors
So far, you have learned general effects of high-/low-keyed colors, and warm and cool colors. You also learned the effects made by various color combinations. In Unit 4, you will learn moods and meanings carried by specific colors.

Powerful


The color of red gives a powerful feeling and could be useful when you want to impress people.

Happy


Red color is also associated with the sense of happiness. Specifically, red is a Christmas color as well as color for festivals in Asian cultures.

Dangerous


People naturally perceive red as a color of danger, probably because it is the color of blood or fire. You can use red when you are creating warning message.

Energetic


Orange makes you feel the sense of energy. You can use orange, for example, when you are writing an article about the vitality of a moth.

Festive


Orange also gives a happy and friendly feeling. The color is often associated with festivals.

Warm


Orange is the color of fire and thus conveys warm a feeling. The color would especially attract people in a cold winter.

Sacred


Because yellow looks similar to gold, it is often associated with sacredness. Notice both the pictures use gold yellows.

Novel


By using bright yellow, you can create something unique and new looking. Such yellow makes the object strongly standout from other objects.

Cheerful


Yellows is also perceived as cheerful. When you want to create a happy feeling, you can consider using yellow too.

Growing


Green color is associated with the energy of plants and carries the feeling of growth. While red represents temporal strong energy, green conveys long-lasting, gradual energy.

Fresh


Because green leafs are usually young leafs, green color also convey the message of freshness and youngness.

Healthy


Because greens are associated with freshness and youngness, they also convey the feeling of healthiness.

Calm


Blue has the sense of serenity. Especially pale blues can combine also with the effects of high-keyed colors and make a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

Dependable


Blue is the color used in various professional settings and perceived as the color of trustworthiness.

Depressing


Dark blues, combined with the effects of low-keyed colors, could create a negative atmosphere.

Sorrow


Violet is another color that could create a depressing atmosphere. Because it is a cool color, it tends to absorb rather than evoke energy.

Nostalgic


Violet is also said to invoke a sentimental feeling. As low-keyed violet carries rather negative feelings, you want to be careful about the key of violet when you intend to create the nostalgic feeling.

Spiritual


Violet is a unique color associated with spiritual beings or supernatural powers. When you want to make a mysterious atmosphere, consider using violet.

Purity


White contains none of red, blue, or yellow, thus, it is uncontaminated and pure. Brides tend to wear white dresses as symbols of purity.

Trustworthy


The uncontaminated and clean character of white make the color a symbol of trustworthiness. The white color is often associated with medical practices.

Bland


As white does not have any color, it could be perceived as boring too. Especially gray whites, combined with the effects of low-keyed color, could convey a cold or sad atmosphere.

Sorrow


Black is the darkest low-keyed color and it displays the effects of low-keyed colors very strongly. In general, black carries negative feelings and atmosphere.

Death


Black is also associated with death. While whites are also associated with death, it tends to be associated with funeral rather than death itself. Also, in Asian cultures, black is the color for the funeral.

Elite


While black is generally associated with negative things, it is also associated with eliteness and intelligence. This is probably because people tend to be expected to wear a black suit in formal settings.

Dirty


In terms of its effects, brown could be considered the opposite color of white. While white is a color of cleanness, browns are colors of contamination.

Bare


Because the earth color is brown, the color of brown is associated with bareness. Accordingly, it also conveys the feeling of wildness.

Poor


As brown represents both dirtiness and bareness, it also produces the message of poverty. You would notice lots of pictures about poverty consist of the color of brown.


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