Color Theory

As designers, color plays a huge role in helping to understand our designs, and interpret our process as a whole. Color theory, as stated by dictionary.com is " a set of principles used to create harmonious color combinations." Examples of color relationships can be made visible by examining a color wheel. Color, especially in a designer's or artist's design, or piece of artwork, is vital to understanding the entire piece. Designers and artist usually have a reason for deciding to used the color choices they use, and by understanding color theory, and the relationships between colors, the audiences is able to see a connection between colors and their relationship to a designer's, or artist's work.

Dating back to the times of Leonard da Vinci, color theory has always been used to help determin certain relationships between colors. Color Theory originally included only three basic colors, Red, Green, and Blue, which were later renamed as the primary colors. These three colors were separated due to their ability to mix well with colors. From theses three primary colors came the establishment of the 18th century color visions theories, which indicated that the eye was most sensitive to these three colors. As the development of color continued, scientist and theorist came to believe that color was interpreted best through different hues and shades of the primary colors. From there, the establishment of the color wheel, and the various color groups such as secondary colors, and tertiary colors were developed, and today are better understood. Through color theory, one is able to understand the connection between colors as a whole. Josef Albers, one color theorist, helps to explain the relationship between color and the effects it has one itself. Color theory is just another way of understanding the connection of designers and their work.


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