Color Theory for Designers from Udemy

What's inside

Learning objectives

Color theory - color wheel, color rules/ harmonies
The language of color - value, tints, tones, shades
The psychology of color in branding
Color systems, rgb, hex, cmyk and pantone

Color tips in illustrator - getting inspired
Color guide, swatches, global color
Adobe color, my themes, ase files

Color theory - color wheel, color rules/ harmonies
The language of color - value, tints, tones, shades
The psychology of color in branding
Color systems, rgb, hex, cmyk and pantone
Color tips in illustrator - getting inspired
Color guide, swatches, global color
Adobe color, my themes, ase files

Syllabus

By the end of this course you should feel more confident when picking color schemes for your projects, you will know the basic theory of colour and how to create killer color combinations that work.

You have probably seen a colour wheel before and heard of terms like complementary colors, tints, shades or tone but you may not know exactly what they mean or how they help when working with colour.

In this chapter we take a look at the colour wheel and the colour rules or harmonies and how they are applied to successful brands. You will gain an understanding of how to create colour combinations that work.

We look at the basics of the Colour Systems that designers and developers use in Print (CMKY) Screen (RGB) as well as Hex Codes and the Pantone Color System.

We take a look at Adobe Illustrator the programme that most designers use to create logos and brand assets, you will see how easy it is to apply the rules of colour to your artwork using their tools.

I have a class project, putting together a moodboard for 2 of the colour harmonies, we can then share them and together create a resource of great colour combinations.

Join me, get inspired by colour.

In this video we create moodboards based on two of the color theories, using the the Adobe Illustrator eye dropper tool and Adobe color guide, You will see how easy it is to work with the color harmonies and color theory in Adobe Illustrator.

Color is a complexed subject and can have vastly different meanings from one person to the next, we take a look into the more common meanings of color and the feelings they evoke. We look at colors used in well known brands and across industries.

A downloadable PDF of the common meanings of color is included in this section - a reference guide for you to use when choosing color for your client or brand.

Working with a new brand - We choose a new color scheme based on the companies brand values, we use the color guide, color themes, Adobe Color and the swatches palette choose and fill our assets with color.

We apply our new color scheme to an illustration, we work with our knowledge of color value to choose tints and shades and update the artwork using global colour.

With your brand assets now filled with your chosen color scheme we now look at finding the Pantone color matches from within Adobe Illustrator.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores color systems like RGB, CMYK, and Pantone, which are essential for designers working in both print and digital media

Provides a foundation in color theory, including the color wheel, harmonies, and their application in branding, which is ideal for those new to graphic design

Examines the psychology of color and its impact on branding, offering insights into how color choices can influence consumer perception and brand identity

Offers practical tips and techniques for using color tools within Adobe Illustrator, such as the color guide, swatches, and global color, to enhance design workflows

Uses Adobe Illustrator for demonstrations, so learners will need access to this software to follow along with the hands-on exercises and projects

Focuses on using Adobe Illustrator, which may not be relevant for designers who prefer other design software or work primarily in non-digital mediums

Reviews summary

Fundamentals of color theory for designers

According to learners, this course provides a clear and easy-to-follow guide to the fundamentals of color theory, particularly useful for beginners and those needing a refresher. Students found the material well-organized and engaging, with plenty of examples and technical steps. The course incorporates useful tips and demonstrations for applying color theory within Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Color, including downloadable resources and a practical class project that helps solidify understanding of the color picking process and creating combinations. Overall, reviewers highly recommend the class for its practical approach and effectiveness in building confidence with color.

Students found the teaching style engaging and effective.

"Really well organized & engaging class."

"I love the class. I definitely recommend it. Thank you, Sarah."

"I am glad I took this course."

Includes useful software tips and practical projects.

"Plenty of examples, time for exercises, description of technical steps & downloadable resources."

"useful tips on where to find great color resources in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Color."

"The project is an organized little task that articulates important parts of this process."

"You learn... how to use color in Adobe Illustrator."

Well-structured and easy to follow for foundational learning.

"Really well organized & engaging class."

"This is an easy to follow guide to the fundamentals of color for illustrators and designers."

"The process is broken down into simple, easy to follow, steps."

"Great for beginners and anyone that needs to revisit the color picking process."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Color Theory for Designers with these activities:

Review Color Theory Fundamentals

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Reinforce your understanding of color theory basics before diving into the course to ensure a solid foundation.

Browse courses on Color Theory

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Review the color wheel and its components.
Study basic color harmonies like complementary, analogous, and triadic.
Practice identifying colors and their relationships.

Review 'Interaction of Color' by Josef Albers

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Deepen your understanding of color relationships and perception through Albers' influential work.

View Albers and Morandi: Never Finished on Amazon

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Read selected chapters focusing on color interaction and relativity.
Experiment with color combinations based on Albers' exercises.
Reflect on how color perception influences design choices.

Create a Color Palette Mood Board

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Apply color theory principles by creating a mood board for a specific brand or project, reinforcing your understanding of color psychology and harmonies.

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Choose a brand or project to inspire your mood board.
Select a color palette that aligns with the brand's values or project goals.
Gather images, textures, and typography that complement the chosen colors.
Arrange the elements into a visually appealing mood board.

Four other activities

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Color Palette Generation Practice

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Sharpen your ability to quickly generate effective color palettes using online tools and color theory principles.

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Use Adobe Color or Coolors to generate random color palettes.
Evaluate each palette based on color harmony and usability.
Adjust the palettes to improve their effectiveness.

Design a Logo with a Specific Color Palette

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Solidify your understanding of color in branding by designing a logo that effectively communicates a brand's message through color.

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Choose a brand or create a fictional brand.
Develop a logo concept that reflects the brand's identity.
Select a color palette that aligns with the brand's values and target audience.
Create the logo using design software like Adobe Illustrator.

Review 'Color Design Workbook' by Sean Adams

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Explore practical applications of color theory in design through real-world examples and exercises.

View The Designer's Dictionary of Type on Amazon

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Read selected chapters focusing on specific design applications.
Complete the exercises to practice color selection and application.
Analyze the real-world examples to understand effective color usage.

Curate a Collection of Color Resources

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Enhance your understanding of color by compiling a collection of useful resources, including websites, articles, and tools.

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Search for websites and articles related to color theory and design.
Identify useful tools for color palette generation and analysis.
Organize the resources into a curated collection.
Write a brief description of each resource and its benefits.

Career center

Learners who complete Color Theory for Designers will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Graphic designer

A graphic designer crafts visual concepts that communicate ideas, inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. This course may be useful for graphic designers, as a strong understanding of color theory is essential for creating impactful and effective designs. Sarah shares knowledge of color systems such as RGB, CMYK, and Pantone color. Students learn to pick color schemes for projects, understand color theory, and create killer color combinations. They will learn the basics of the color wheel and color harmonies. Moreover, the course covers the psychology of color in branding, enabling graphic designers to make informed decisions about color choices that align with brand values and target audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

Illustrator

An illustrator creates images for a variety of media, such as books, magazines, websites, and advertising campaigns. Color is a fundamental element of illustration, and a strong understanding of color theory is essential for creating visually compelling and emotionally resonant artwork. The course instructor shares some of the knowledge gained over 20 years as a graphic designer, including the basics of the color wheel and color harmonies. The class projects are filled with useful tips on where to find color resources in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Color. Moreover, the course explores the psychology of color, enabling illustrators to make informed decisions about color choices that enhance the message and impact of their illustrations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator

Web Designer

Web designers plan, create, and code internet sites and web pages, many of which combine text with sounds, pictures, graphics, and video clips. Web design is a highly visual medium. Therefore, understanding color theory is crucial for creating appealing and user-friendly websites. This course may be useful because it explores color systems used in design and technology, including RGB and Hex codes, which are vital for web design. The course also gives insight into the psychology of color, so that web designers can make better decisions about how color choices can affect users' perceptions and their online behavior. Furthermore, the course highlights useful tips on where to find color resources in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Color, tools frequently used by web designers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

User Interface Designer

User interface designers focus on the visual layout and interactive elements of digital products, such as websites and mobile apps. The goal of the designer is to create a screen that is pleasing to look at, easy to use, and achieves the objectives of the product. Given the central role that color plays in the look and feel of an interface, this course may be useful. Students learn to pick color schemes for projects, understand color theory, and create killer color combinations. By the end of this course, participants will understand the basics of the color wheel and color harmonies. The course explores the use of color systems, including RGB, which is vital for screen design.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Interface Designer

Art Director

Art directors are in charge of the visual style and images for magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and film and television productions. They decide how to best represent the desired mood and visual attributes. This course helps art directors become more confident when picking color schemes for projects. The Adobe Color tips in Illustrator may be of particular use to them. Given that the course covers color systems and Adobe Illustrator, it may be especially helpful to art directors involved in print media.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Animator

Animators create moving images for various media, such as films, television shows, and video games. Color is an essential element of animation, helping to create mood, convey emotion, and guide the viewer's eye. This course helps animators become more confident when picking color schemes for projects. The Adobe Color tips in Illustrator may be of particular use to them, since Adobe products are commonly used in animation. By the end of this course, participants will understand the basics of the color wheel and color harmonies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Brand Manager

Brand managers oversee all aspects of a brand's image and messaging. This includes ensuring that the brand's visual identity, including its color palette, aligns with its values and resonates with its target audience. Since this course covers the psychology of color in branding, brand managers can apply this to make informed decisions about color choices that strengthen brand recognition and evoke desired emotions in consumers. Also, a brand manager can benefit from learning color systems like Pantone. Grasping the language of color, including value, tints, tones, and shades, will also help brand managers make better decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Brand Manager

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers plan and execute marketing campaigns to promote products or services. Color plays a significant role in marketing, influencing consumer perceptions and purchase decisions. This course may be useful as it delves into the psychology of color, which is essential for creating effective marketing materials that capture attention and convey the desired message. A marketing manager benefits from becoming more confident when picking color schemes. This course contains class projects filled with useful tips on where to find great color resources in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Color.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Interior designer

Interior designers plan and supervise the design and layout of interior spaces. Because color profoundly impacts the ambiance and mood of a room, interior designers must possess a thorough understanding of color theory. The course helps interior designers learn how to create killer color combinations. This course goes over color harmonies and the psychology of color. An interior designer benefits from becoming more confident when picking color schemes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interior designer

Fashion Designer

Fashion designers create clothing and accessories. Color is of paramount importance in fashion design, influencing trends and consumer preferences. The course's discussion of color harmonies and the psychology of color can give the fashion designer a sharper eye. This course also covers color systems, which may be helpful for a fashion designer working with textiles or specifying colors to manufacturers. A fashion designer benefits from becoming more confident when picking color schemes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fashion Designer

Product Designer

Product designers are involved in the design and development of physical products, from consumer goods to industrial equipment. Color is an important consideration in product design, influencing consumer appeal and brand recognition. This course covers the psychology of color in branding, which is directly applicable to product design. The course also goes over color systems, including CMYK and Pantone, which may be helpful for specifying colors for manufacturing. A product designer benefits from becoming more confident when picking color schemes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Exhibition Designer

Exhibition designers create displays and exhibits for museums, galleries, trade shows, and other venues. Color is used to communicate the purpose of the exhibit or to evoke certain feelings for consumers. The course goes over color harmonies and the psychology of color. The Adobe Color tips in Illustrator may be of particular use to them. By the end of this course, participants will understand the basics of the color wheel.

See salaries and explore the career path for Exhibition Designer

Fine Artist

A fine artist creates original works of art, such as paintings, sculptures, and drawings. For a fine artist, knowledge of color is one of the foundations of their art. This course helps fine artists learn how to create killer color combinations. The course goes over color harmonies, color systems, and Adobe Illustrator, which are essential to learn. A fine artist benefits from becoming more confident when picking color schemes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fine Artist

Game Designer

Game designers develop the concepts and rules for video games. Color can make the game experience more immersive and enjoyable. The course helps game designers learn how to create killer color combinations. By the end of this course, participants will understand the basics of the color wheel and color harmonies. The course also explores the use of color systems, including RGB.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Architect

Architects design buildings and other structures. This course may be useful for architects, who must consider the psychological effects of color on people in spaces. Given the course's lessons on the psychology of color, architects may find this course relevant. Architects who specify colors in their designs may also find the lessons on RGB, CMYK, and Pantone useful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Architect

Color Theory for Designers

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Fundamentals of color theory for designers

Activities

Career center

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