Week 5

 How do Cultures Influence Color? (Janet Miller)

Culture:

Culture is the customary beliefs , social forms, and material traits of a certain group. Individuals use color based on their backgrounds. Factors like age, gender, and physical limitations should be considered when choosing colors for certain clients. For examples, babies cry more often in bright yellow rooms and couples argue more in bright colored rooms. Children respond best to bright colors to help balance energy and create such as blue and red. The youth has a little more freedom and responds best to colors that enhance creativity and pop culture. Gen z/ Millennials are the most diverse and best educated age group. When it comes to color this is where they want to express themselves. They are influenced by tv shows and social media. Boomers are ore physically active then before and continue to work longer. Aging eyes take on a yellow cast, so it’s important to choose bright colors when it comes to steps and other things to keep them safe. People of certain statue used to be recognized by certain colors, but now everyone has individual color preferences. Color is also used to reflect the weather and the climate people live in. Warm tropical climates and often accompanied by bright colors, such as Florida. Colors with grey undertones are better for cooler climates, such as the Midwest, because they blend in. Moving is very common and people bring with them their color preferences. Technology also plays a role in color. One of the limitations of technology is the translation of color. For example, when you order something online it doesn’t always look like the same color in person. Social Media also plays a role in color. Influencers and brands use colors to try to grab peoples attention to get them to react or buy something. Red is a dominant color on social media because it gets a response from people. 

Color Trends 

19th century: Victorian colors, shades of red, green, brown, green, light grey, mauve and beige.

Roaring 20’s: A subdued palette, a Chinese influence, red, black, white, pink, beige.

Great Depression : Muted colors, white, beige, brown, blue, yellow, plum

1940’s: Cherry red, peacock blue, olive, warm colors

50’s: New colors, turquoise was a huge deal. Colorful plastics, yellow, and green.

60’s: Explosion of color, Indigo blue was prominent here. 

70’s:Green, brown cream, orange

80’s: Red, blue, peach, teal, brown, shades of grey 

90’s: Eye popping colors, green took center stage. Then, teals, blues, and shades of neutrals

The Millennium: Red, golden yellow, blues, brown. 

2008+ (Hosuing Crisis): Rise of grays and other neutrals. 

Global Pandemic: Many redid their homes to refresh their spaces. Many soothing colors to calm the anxiety. 

Ethnicity 

African: Africa has many diverse ethnic groups. Black represents age and wisdom. Vibrant cloth is style and all the colors in the cloth tell a story.

Asian: Red represents happiness and good luck. Brides wear red and red is worn during celebrations. Yellow represents importance.

Hispanic: Green is the national color of Mexico. Aztec and Mayan color symbolism refers to the 4 cardinal directions, with white, red, yellow, and black.

Indian: India is home to a wide range of colors and symbols. Turmeric is used in cooking and ceremony’s.

Middle Eastern: Green is the color of Isam and represents fertility and good luck. Orange is the color of mourning. Red is the color of danger. 

European Descent: Holland (red, yellow, pink), Ireland (Green), London(Red), Greece(Blue) 

Design for Diversity 

Consider who will be in the space while choosing colors. The value/ hue is also important also make a difference when considering who you are designing for. Remember that one someone in entering a space, they are reacting to all the colors at once, so creating a seamless color palette is important. 

Sketching Assignment

I sketched a two point perspective of the corner of one of the small classrooms in studio. It was a little difficult to get the correct angles for the windows, but I like this rough sketch.