Working with color

A client’s style guide is our bible when we’re working on motion graphics for a video, a menu for a client’s DVD – just about anything to do with design.

But what if they don’t have a style guide?

There are plug-ins galore for Photoshop, Illustrator that help with creating a color palette. Two great online color tools make color choices easier.

Color Scheme Tool is a great web-based tool that offers a variety of palettes including monochromatic, complimentary, and split complimentary.

Colorblender doesn’t let you choose a specific type of palette, but does create a blend of six attractive colors. As a bonus, you can download this palette as a Photoshop color table, an EPS for use in Illustrator or send the blend by email to a colleague or client. The site will also make a suggestion for a Pantone® color match. Very helpful.

Some interesting reading on color theory can be found here.

Keeping it Simple

By now you've probably seen this clip from utube showing how the Apple's iPod packaging would look if designed by Microsoft.



Obviously, the creators of this video had some fun at Microsoft's expense. Garr Reynolds uses this video as springboard to discuss design by committee on his Presentation Zen blog. He makes some great points, but the video had me thinking in a different direction – how do you inspire your audience?

Often we try to squeeze too much into our marketing messages – whether it's a brochure, a website or a video. Look at the screen captures from the video. Which ones do you find more inspiring? It doesn't matter whether you're a fan of Apple or Microsoft, I think most of us would agree that the images on the left are simpler and evoke a feeling/response more effectively than the images on the right.

It's a challenge we face everyday. When we put pen to paper, when we design, write a blog entry – even send an email – we need to get to the heart of the matter and communicate our idea efficiently and effectively.

It's something we consider with every project we create, and every one is a challenge.