Choosing a Website Color Palette
One of the most challenging stages of website design is selecting colors. Sometimes the "painting process" can be done with little effort if the overall color scheme was chosen in advance. However, more often than not, the color choice for each block is painstakingly made. The most difficulties arise when there is a need to somehow align the design with strict corporate colors while still making it look original and fresh.
How Are Emotions and Color Related?
Colors can transform an otherwise unattractive grid of blocks into something meaningful. That's why it's rare to find successful websites that are painted in only shades of gray. Colors carry specific meanings in any culture; they are associated with historical events or things that are significant to a particular person. Since the experience can be individual, it's not easy to predict the client's preferences.
There are some special cases where colors have a universal cultural meaning and are perceived similarly by most people.
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Colors of National Flags: If the colors are arranged in the same way as on a national flag, they can give the design a specific meaning. On the other hand, there might be cases when you don’t want to emphasize the affiliation of the website with a particular country. In that case, it’s best to avoid using colors in that particular arrangement.
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Colors of Social Groups: Large or significant social groups also have something like their own flag. For example, in Rastafarian culture, the colors red, yellow, and green are prominent. Some people see such color combinations as direct references. The LGBTQ+ community is familiar with the rainbow colors, except for blue. For the emo culture, black and pink is a symbolic combination. These options can be used when the website has a clear focus related to these social groups. If the site is not connected to these groups, it’s better to avoid these color combinations. In all other cases, color can have an influence. Its effect can vary, so it is crucial to consider it during the "painting process." Colors will definitely impact the mood and behavior of users.
