OUGD404 - Studio Brief 01 - Basic Colour Theory

 Basic Colour Theory

Colour theory encompasses a multitude of definitions, concepts and design applications - enough to fill several encyclopaedias. However, there are three basic categories of colour theory that are logical and useful : The colour wheel, colour harmony, and the context of how colours are used.

Colour theories create a logical structure for colour. For example, if we have an assortment of fruits and vegetables, we can organise them by colour and place them on a circle that shows the colours in relation to each other.

A colour circle, based on red, yellow and blue, is traditional in the field of art. Sir Isaac Newton developed the first circular diagram of colours in 1666. Since then, scientists and artists have studied and designed numerous variations of this concept. Differences of opinion about the validity of one format over another continue to provoke debate. In reality, any colour circle or colour wheel which presents a logically arranged sequence of pure hues has merit.

There are also definitions (or categories) of colours based on the colour wheel. We begin with a 3-part colour wheel.

Primary Colours: Red, yellow and blue
In traditional colour theory (used in paint and pigments), primary colours are the 3 pigment colours that can not be mixed or formed by any combination of other colours. All other colours are derived from these 3 hues. 

Secondary Colours: Green, orange and purple
These are the colours formed by mixing the primary colours.

Tertiary Colours: Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green & yellow-green
These are the colours formed by mixing a primary and a secondary colour. That's why the hue is a two word name, such as blue-green, red-violet, and yellow-orange.

I used this basic premises when designing some other things on this course as well as outside design jobs. 

I designed this poster below for The Hunger Games - Catching Fire using the colours Red and Orange and Yellow referring back to this.

I also created this leaflet outside of the course for a company named Road & Race. They wanted me to create a various pages. I also used this on this Winter Health check in particular using blues.