The colour wheel
In design.
Colours are the life of any design or style.
Have you ever tried on a certain colour that made your skin pop so much that people had to compliment you? Nothing about you changed, you did your make-up and hair exactly the same, but instead of that red shirt, you threw on a lilac blouse and it made you look like a goddess.
That’s literally what the right color combinations does, it gives life to any appearance, both 2D and 3D.
Let’s talk a little about colour combinations.
But first, what does each colour on the colour wheel mean/represent in design? I’ll tell you.
Red — Energy, Passion, and Urgency
Meaning: Excitement, love, danger, power, and strength.
Common Uses: Used in sales promotions, fast food logos (Coca-Cola, KFC), and call-to-action buttons.
Tip: Great for grabbing attention, but too much can feel overwhelming.
Blue — Trust, Stability, and Professionalism
Meaning: Security, reliability, calmness, and intelligence.
Common Uses: Popular with banks (Chase, PayPal), tech companies (Facebook, Twitter), and healthcare.
Tip: Darker blues feel more professional, while lighter blues feel more friendly.
Yellow — Optimism, Happiness, and Warmth
Meaning: Joy, positivity, energy, and creativity.
Common Uses: Used by brands that want to feel fun and approachable (McDonald’s, IKEA, Snapchat).
Tip: Too much yellow can cause eye strain, so use it carefully.
Secondary Colors
Orange — Creativity, Confidence, and Enthusiasm
Meaning: Energy, playfulness, warmth, and encouragement.
Common Uses: Seen in sports brands (Nike, Fanta), entertainment, and food.
Tip: Combines the urgency of red with the cheerfulness of yellow.
Green — Growth, Health, and Sustainability
Meaning: Nature, freshness, balance, and renewal.
Common Uses: Used by organic brands, eco-friendly companies, and finance (Starbucks, Whole Foods, BP).
Tip: Lighter greens feel fresh, while darker greens feel more luxurious.
Purple — Luxury, Mystery, and Creativity
Meaning: Royalty, wisdom, spirituality, and imagination.
Common Uses: Found in beauty brands (Cadbury, Hallmark, Yahoo!) and luxury products.
Tip: Deep purples feel rich and elegant, while lighter purples feel more playful.
Tertiary & Neutral Colors
Black — Sophistication, Power, and Elegance
Meaning: Strength, mystery, luxury, and minimalism.
Common Uses: Seen in luxury brands (Chanel, Nike, Apple), high-end fashion, and tech.
Tip: Works well in modern and high-contrast designs.
White — Simplicity, Purity, and Cleanliness
Meaning: Minimalism, peace, clarity, and freshness.
Common Uses: Used by healthcare, tech (Apple, Tesla), and wedding brands.
Tip: Too much white can feel empty, so balance it with other colors.
Brown — Stability, Earthiness, and Reliability
Meaning: Warmth, wholesomeness, and organic/natural vibes.
Common Uses: Found in food brands (Nestlé, Hershey’s), outdoor brands, and natural products.
Tip: Great for vintage or rustic designs.
Multicolor — Diversity, Inclusion, and Fun
Meaning: Playfulness, innovation, and variety.
Common Uses: Seen in Google, NBC, and Olympics branding.
Tip: Works well for brands that emphasize diversity and creativity
HOW TO USE THE COLOUR WHEEL
You can use the color wheel in design by selecting colors based on their position on the wheel to create color schemes.
Color schemes
Complementary
Use colors that are opposite each other on the wheel, like red and green, or blue and orange. This creates a high-contrast look.
Monochromatic
Use different shades (shade refers to how much black is added into the hue. As such, shade darkens a color), tones (tone is the result of a color that has had both white and black added to it. In other words, tone refers to any hue that has been modified with the addition of grey), and tints (the opposite of shade, tint refers to how much white is added to a color. As such, tint lightens a color) of a single color.
This creates a harmonious look.
Analogous
Use three colors that are next to each other on the wheel. This creates a unified effect. Analogous color palettes are commonly used when no contrast is needed — for example, on the background of web pages or banners.
Triadic
Use three colors that are equally spaced on the wheel. This creates a vibrant, energetic palette. Most designers employ the triadic color scheme by choosing one dominant color, and using the other two colors as accents.
Tetradic
Use four colors that are equally spaced on the wheel. This creates a visually stunning effect
Tips for using the color wheel
- To avoid a simplistic complementary color scheme, add variety by using lighter, darker, or desaturated tones.
2. To create a balanced analogous color scheme, choose one dominant hue and use others as accents.
3. To create a balanced tetradic color scheme, emphasize one color as the dominant shade, with the others serving as accents
That’s all for the color wheel.
Till next time,
Love and Light.
