Colour schemes

Where do you get your inspiration!

[shanz]

Are there any techies out there who struggle when it comes to the graphic design aspect of web design.

Where do you go for inspiration?

Is imitation the highest form of flattery or does it just make you a thieving gypsey?

:)

[SmallTime]

There have been a few discussions of this, you're not alone.
[webmasterworld.com...] and the site search will have more.

[shanz]

Thanks smalltime.

One of these days I'll remember the search. McDoh!!

Shanz

[papabaer]

Hello shanz, we've had some pretty interesting threads on the subject. Here are some recent links that covered many different aspects and approaches:

[webmasterworld.com...]
[webmasterworld.com...]
[webmasterworld.com...]

You can also do a site search for colors, color schemes, website colors, etc. to find many more discussions on this topic.

[rewboss]

All of those threads seem to go on a bit about colour and colour theory, but of course, there's more to design than that. There's layout, there's shape, there's... well, everything you see has to be planned.

I recommend simply taking a notebook with you wherever you go. I once based a company logo on the shape of a building which had absolutely nothing to do with the company. You wouldn't now recognize the building if you looked at the logo, but it was the inspiration which got me started.

Two things are needed:

1. Observation. What works for you? What looks good, what looks bad? Look around you, look at photographs, logos, architecture, nature, art, catalogues. What design principles can you discern? Will they work on the web (not all of them will)?

2. Experimentation. Try it out for yourself. Play around with ideas, change things, do some outrageous stuff. Get a personal website, use it as a playground -- on a personal website you can get away with stuff that would kill a corporate website stone dead, but you can try out your ideas and then perhaps refine them into something that will work.

I use Corel Draw Select Edition a lot. One of the main reasons is that, since it's stripped of all the exciting whistles and bells, it forces me to keep things simple. I have been know to draw a couple of random shapes and move them around for half an hour, trying out different colours and effects. Occasionally I go, "Oh wow!" when I discover something really cool. Usually I don't, but it's a great way to learn what works and what sucks.

[moonbiter]

Well, I'm a designer who just goes with what looks best to me. It seems to work. Probably because I internalized all that color theory stuff in art class. ;)

Seriously, study the subject and you will be enlightened. Color, like art in general, is a skill that can be learned. Some people seem to be better physically equipped than others to be successful at it, but anyone can learn it with training. Just like sports, programming, or anything else.

It is nothing magical, although it might seem so to the untrained. In fact, it is just like magic in that sense. :)

So follow the links, read books and tutorials on color theory and art, practice, and eventually you will learn it.

Oh, and I found this to be helpful too:

[visibone.com...]

[shanz]

Thanks all of the above for the good links.

Any comments on the imitation/flattery versus thieving gypsy idea?

I'm sure you've all seen some hum dingers.

[entweb.com...]

Shanz

[guiroo]

Hey Shanz,

Someone already mentioned looking to nature but I just wanted to empahsize that and add another suggestion. Regarding nature, We usually assume nature colors will be browns, greens, and blues but there is so much more out there. Look at animal markings - tigers, tropical fish, insects, flowser, etc. (Nike does this with their shoes.)

Also once I was at the beach and a storm was blowing in from the ocean while it was sunny on the shore. The comination of dark to light grays, warm sand tones, and whitecap highlights was just beautiful. Go God!

Also I like to go to Home Depot and get paint samples and demo brochures. Ralph Lauren knows what colors people like.

Hope that helps.