Colors of Life

             Color is a powerful and important communication tool, and it is tied to religious, cultural, political and social influences.Most of us have a favorite color or prefer some colors over others. This is because # CAN AFFECT OUR MOODS so we surround ourselves in the colors that have a positive impact on our mood.Red can boost your energy, yellow often makes people feel happier, and blue is proven to bring down blood pressure and slow your heart rate which is why it is often associated with being relaxing. If you combine the happiness of yellow and the relaxing feel of blue you get green, a very pleasing color for many people.

        Mental health units are known to use pastel tones on their walls so that patients feel calm, happy, and relaxed. Walls that are beige with a pink tint combined with mint green floors are a popular combination as it is said to create a soothing harmonious and calm area. At the other end of the spectrum, literally, schools tend to user bright colors that appeal to children. 

# COLORS COMMUNICATE INVISIBLY  Wassily Kandinsky was one of the first pioneers of color theory. A renowned Russian painter and art theorist, he is often considered the founder of abstract art. Kandinsky believed the following colours communicate the following qualities:

• Yellow – warm, exciting, happy
• Blue – deep, peaceful, supernatural
• Green – peace, stillness, nature
• Black – grief, dark, unknown
• Red – glowing, confidence, alive
• Orange – radiant, healthy, serious
• White – harmony, silence, cleanliness  

# COLORS HAS CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE Different colours mean different things in different places. This is extremely important for designers to know because without an awareness of the cultural significance of a particular colour, you risk offending your entire target audience.Purple for example is a colour of mourning thailand.In western culture however,it is associated with

 with royalty, luxury, wealth and sometimes magic. The brand color for Thai Airways is purple. On first glance this seems like a huge error on their part because as mentioned above, purple is a color of mourning in Thailand.It is most likely however, that the Thai Airways website isn’t aimed at locals but at tourists, therefore if westerners view the site and see purple it will associate Thai Airways with values such as luxury and comfort.


        Other examples are:

• In western cultures black is a colour of mourning
• In Japan however it is a colour of honour, with white the colour of mourning
• Red in the west represents danger, love, passion
• In India it is a colour of purity, in China it is a colour of good luck and in South Africa it is a colour of mourning
• Yellow represents courage in Japan, mourning in Egypt and hope in the West

 #5COLOR HAS POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS Individual political parties are associated with one colour or another. Depending on whom your audience is, this might prove to be valuable information when designing.The association between political parties and colours isn’t a new connection but it is often taken for granted. In the UK for example the following pairings exist:

• Labor – Red
• Conservative – Blue
• Liberal Democrats – Yellow
• The Green Party – Green

If a color is representative of a political party then the values and behaviors that the party is known for can be suggested through the use of this color.

• Red is often linked to socialism and communism
• White has links to pacifism and the surrender flag. In contrast to this, black is a color that is used in conjunction with anarchism.
• Working class Nazism is associated with the color brown as the SA were known as the ‘brown-shirts’.

A design with one of these colors as the dominant shade may well hint at a right wing or a left wing preference or at extreme behaviors.

#6 RELIGION CAN BE LINKED TO COLORS As with politics, colors are representative of certain religions. So as not to unintentionally offend anyone through your designs,

  some examples of these color/religion associations are:

• Green is considered to be the holy color of Islam
• Judaism is represented by the color yellow
• In Hinduism, many gods have blue skin
• White is linked to peace across many religions

Again this may only be necessary information if you are designing a site that has specific links to religion but it also emphasizes that a thorough knowledge of your audience is a fundamental part of the design process.

#7 AGE AFFECTS PEOPLE'S COLOR PREFERENCES Color expert Faber Birren carried out many studies into this area and in his book Color Psychology and Color Therapy, he states that for both genders, blue and red “maintain a high preference throughout life”. He found that yellow is popular with children but as become move into adulthood it shows less popularity. Birren found that “with maturity comes a greater liking for hues of shorter wave length (blue, green, purple) than for hues of longer wave length (red, orange, and yellow)”.Another factor that influences people's color preferences is that throughouttheir life there will be social and cultural changes and this can directly impact on their favorite colors. Some knowledge of what colors certain age ranges prefer can be valuable for designers. If you were designing a website for a toy store or a children TV channel, then knowing they prefer bright colors and yellow in particular would help with your design decisions.

Likewise, if you designed a website for a charity whereby the audience was to be the older generation then blue, green or purple might be ideal, based on Birren’s findings.

Significance of colors :

Meaning of the Color Green :Green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye and is second only to blue as a favorite color. Green is the pervasive color in the natural world that is an ideal backdrop in interior design because we are so used to seeing it everywhere.The natural greens,from forest to lime,are seen as refreshing with a natural, are seen as refreshing with a natural balance of

,are seen as refreshing with a natural balance of cool and warm(blue and yellow)under stones.Green is considered the color of peace and ecology.However there is an institutional side of green,associated with illness or government-issued that conjure up negative  emotions as do the "slimy" or bilious greens.

  How the color green affects us physically and mentally 

             * Soothing                     

             * Relaxing mentally as well as physically

             * Helps alleviate depression, nervousness &  anxiety              * Offers a sense of renewal, self control & harmony                                                                 

Meaning of the Color Yellow :Yellow shines with optimism, enlightenment,   and happiness.  Shades of golden yellow carry the promise of a positive future yellow will advance

 from surrounding colors and instill optimism and energy, as well as spark creative thoughts.

  





How the color yellow affects us mentally and physical  

                               *Mentally stimulating
                               *Stimulates the nervous system
                               *Activates memory
                               *Encourages communication

Meaning of the Color Orange : Orange, a close relative of red, sparks more controversy than any other hue. There is usually strong positive or negative association to  orange &

true orange generally elicits a stronger "love it" or "hate it" response than other colors. Fun and flamboyant orange radiates warmth and energy. Interestingly, some of the tones of orange such as terra cotta, peach or rust have very broad appeal.

How the color orange affects us mentally and physically
                * Stimulates activity
                * Stimulates appetite
                * Encourages socialization

  

Meaning of the Color Red :Red has more personal associations than any other color. Recognized as a stimulant red is inherently exciting and the

amount of red is directly related to the level of energy perceived. Red draws attention and a keen use of red as an accent can immediately focus attention on a particular element.


How the color red affects us mentally and physically
                       * Increases enthusiasm
                       * Stimulates energy
                       * Encourages action and confidence
                       * A sense of protection from fears and anxiety

Meaning of the Color Purple :Purple embodies the balance of red simulation and blue calm. This dichotomy can cause unrest or uneasiness unless the undertone is clearly defined at which point the purple takes on the characteristics of its

undertone. A sense of mystic and royal qualities, purple is a color often well liked by very creative or eccentric types and is the favorite color of adolescent girls.






How the color purple affects us mentally and physically
                           * Uplifting
                           * Calming to mind & nerves
                           * Offers a sense of spirituality
                           * Encourages creativity

Meaning of the Color Brown : Brown says stability, reliability, and approachability. It is the color of our earth and is associated with all things natural or organic.

How the color brown affects us physically and mentally
 
* Feeling of wholesomeness
* Stability
* Connection with the earth
* Offers a sense orderliness

Meaning of the Color White White projects purity, cleanliness, and neutrality. Doctor's white coats,brides traditionally were white gowns and a white picket fence surrounds a safe & happy home.

How the color white affects us mentally and physically
 
* aids mental clarity
* encourages us to clear clutter or obstacles
* evokes purification of  thoughts or actions
 * enables fresh beginnings

 Meaning of the Color Blue:The color signifies  intelligent, self-reliant and have a great depth of feeling. You feel responsibility for others and enjoy decision-making. You need tranquility all around you and must be surrounded by tenderness, love and affection. Noisy people disturb you.You may suffer from mental stress owing to.the lack of play and relaxation.Try wearing some blue-greens or green

 to help your self-expression and improve your health.
 
How the color gray affects us physically and mentally
* Reliable
*Decision making
*Royalty

Meaning of the Color Black  : Black is authoritative and powerful; because black can evoke strong emotions too much can be  overwhelming. A classic color for clothing possibly because it makes the wearer appear thinner and more sophisticated.

How the color black affects us physically and mentally :
     * feeling inconspicuous
                                                  * a restful emptiness
                                                  * mysterious evoking a sense of potential and possibility.

 Look at the colors you wear most often and see what they reveal about you. The following analysis are based on various psychological tests.  

http://library.thinkquest.org/C004179/significance.htm

So colors as affect both psychologically and physically ...Lets treat our eyes with colors of life around us.