C is for Colour: Has colour been appropriately used?

Colour palette relevant to the design’s industry or intended purpose

Doing research on the industry you are designing for is a must. You need to know what works for the industry and what doesn’t so you get a design that is desired by the end user. For example, a cupcake maker would want a bright, colourful design, however this would not appeal to a car garage.

Remember that the design needs to be fully editable apart from the basic design layout you set, and the background colours, so this part of the design must be relevant. The end user can however change the colour of the text within the colour pallet you have selected. It’s a good idea to give as many options as possible for the end user, however remember to keep the colour harmony, you don’t want a lovely pink design with with neon green text!

Aesthetically pleasing colour palette

Appearance is everything when looking at a design, from the design features to the images, but one of the most important aspects is colour. Colour plays such an important role within design, it can sway thinking, change actions and create desire for what the design is advertising.

It’s a good idea to create colour harmony within your designs, this is something that is pleasing to the eye. It engages the viewer and it creates an sense of order, a balance in the visual experience. When something is not harmonious, it’s either boring or badly designed which will then divert the end user’s attention.

Oh the other hand if the design has too many colours, it can make the enduser not want to look at the design, this is because the human brain rejects over-stimulating information.

If you need help with colour schemes take a look at our Pinterest board for some inspiration. http://www.pinterest.com/templatecloud/colour-schemes/