The role of color in our daily lives is much more important than most people realize. It has a large impact on how we perceive aesthetic, but also in how we perceive a situation. We not only perceive color, but color also causes physiological reactions and has a hand in how we feel and even react. It can also be used as a functional resource to assist in wayfinding. We see color used as a resource in hospitals who use colored lines or arrows on the floor to indicate direction. Another example is the subway system in New York City and the color coding techniques used to direct passengers to the correct subway line. Color is all around us and is vital to our everyday lives. Continue reading to find out a little more about how much color influences us!
First, color is important for how we detect spatial features and experience interior spaces. We have a tendency to describe rooms based on the colors utilized and how those colors are perceived by us. For example, we describe a room as warm or cold, and this is based on the perception of color in the space. A room with a lot of white and greys will "feel" colder than one that is filled with warmer hues. In addition to how the room will "feel" to the observer, we can use color to make a room feel more spacious. If we use warmer colors in the foreground and cooler in the background, we can enhance depth perception.
Everyone perceives color differently and we all have a different emotional response to color. Some of our perceptions and how we react to color comes from socialization. Such as, in European cultures, white is associated with brides and weddings and black is associated with mourners and funerals. The color blue holds many different meanings from depression to royalty. It can be seen as a calming color as well. We use color as a form of symbolism from the use of color in logos, school colors, flags, etc. It is a part of our lives in so many ways, some that we do not even think about.
It has been found that the color of a room can trigger physiological and emotional reactions. Frank and Rudolf Mahnke (internationally recognized color consultants) conducted research and created guidelines for educational buildings based on color in the learning environment. They found that preschool/primary schools should use warm, bright colors while secondary schools would benefit from cool colors. Hallways within educational buildings should have a diverse color range and libraries should utilize pale or light green. They also explained that designers should use colors in the middle ranges on walls and floors to minimize glare and contrast workstations in the rooms of educational buildings to create focal points.
The way we see color changes depending on our age. As we age, our detection of color changes and becomes more problematic. Older adults have difficulty seeing the difference between cooler colors like blues and greens. This can create issues in discerning between furniture and flooring and understanding exactly where one is in the space. If not understood correctly, this leads to an increase in falls and injuries in the older generation. Utilizing a color scheme that takes these visual differences into account can provide a better quality of life. Color truly is life changing for us!
Color is vital to our perception of the world and how we emotionally respond to it. We use it to find our way, to understand and develop spatial awareness and to of course, create an aesthetically pleasing design. Color and how we use it has a much larger role to play in our world than creating a beautiful design; it changes how we live and react. It is amazing to think of the importance of it and how designers can use it to not only create a wonderful design, but to improve the lives of others.
Colleen Arlet
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