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The Emotion Of Color in Web Design
Color Emotion and Web Design
By Sharon Housley
Color psychology is a phrase used to
describe the effect that "color" has on human behavior.
The psychology of color is certainly not a new concept.
In fact, it has been around for hundreds, if not thousands
of years. Colors tend to carry non-verbal and subliminal
messages, and the color spectrum evokes different emotions
and physiological responses in people. The reactions
people have to specific colors may be influenced by
many factors, including their culture, location, gender,
or even their age.
The emotions that are evoked by various
colors are not always gender-specific. The same colors
may generate one emotion in men, while producing a completely
different emotion in women. Colors may also have different
psychological impacts in different cultures. In eastern
cultures, white might represent death; whereas in western
cultures, white can represent life, marriage, or rebirth.
Colors may also have a different impact on people in
different age groups.
In addition to psychological effects,
individuals can also have a physiological response to
different colors. Studies show that some colors, red
for example, can increase blood pressure, and the human
body can actually experience physical changes as a result
of color stimulus.
As a website designer, it is important
to consider the effects that certain colors might have
on your potential customers. The following chart describes
some common color and emotion associations that are
common in the western world. Keep in mind that there
are no hard and fast rules when it comes to color -
the same color may be perceived differently by different
individuals. You must use your own judgment with your
design palette.
Color References
Gray - unsettling, moody, dull.
Yellow - cheerful, happiness, optimism, playful, sunny,
warm.
Black - authority, power, somber, evil, easy to overwhelm,
bold, empty.
Red - energy, excitement, symbol of life, aggressive,
passionate, vigor.
Green - conservative, wealth, nature, good luck, fertility,
generosity, sickly.
White - purity, clean, sterile.
Pink - calming, gentle, delicate, feminine, tranquil.
Blue - cold, uncaring, focused, dependable, loyal, serene,
sedate, trustworthy.
Purple - royalty, religious, superficial, spiritual.
Brown - reliable, stable, earthy.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds
and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for
RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com
audio recording and editing software.
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be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
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