The compass and the map: colour meaning and the colour design process

Abstract

Colour Theory in the design world generally refers to topics of interest to a designer, such as colour combinations and colour interaction. The first addresses various options for assembling a palette (analogous, complementary, etc.), and the second involves structured observations about both subtle and striking effects that occur when placing colours next to each other, information which is useful to know. However, neither of these explain, in an evidence-based way, how palette choices will affect the recipients of the design. Further complicating matters, colour is frequently taught as a standalone subject, not presented within the context of a design thinking process, so there is little tangible guidance for the designer as to how to apply this knowledge in a project. This is especially true in the field of interior design, which is the primary concern in this paper, but it applies to other design specialties as well. We have been asking designers to map a colour direction for their projects without the benefit of a “compass” to point the way forward, and without this compass, colour interaction and colour relationships become a series of academic exercises rather than useful tools for design. At the core of the issue is Colour Meaning, usually presented as colour associations and symbolism, but which is considerably more complex and dimensional. In recent years, a new paradigm has emerged that offers designers an intuitive and evidence-based approach to navigating colour. This article presents this paradigm as a Colour Compass and illustrates how incorporating these topics into a human-centred design model can facilitate the colour design thought process.