Colour theory is an integral part of all design processes. In short, colour theory assigns a logical structure to colour based on light spectrums, highlighting which colours aesthetically complement each other. When you employ the fundamentals of colour theory in your design, you can create unforgettable branded products.
The Colour Wheel and Colour Categorization
Isaac Newton first designed the colour wheel in 1666 to orient and observe the harmony of the three primary colours — yellow, blue and red. All colours are derived from a mixture of these three primary hues, which you can then use to create secondary and tertiary colours. However, certain industries may use red, green and blue or cyan, magenta and yellow as their primary colours, depending on the demands of their medium.
The primary colours — yellow, blue and red — combine to create the secondary colours green, purple and orange. No matter the orientation of the wheel, the primary colours are always across from each other and create a triangle. Colours are then categorized by complementary colours, which are located opposite each other on the colour wheel. Complementary colours are great for creating eye-catching accents. However, overusing complementary colours might appear garish and overwhelming to your viewer.
You can also mix secondary colours to create tertiary colours like blue-green, blue-purple, red-purple, red-orange, yellow-green and yellow-orange. All tertiary colours are formed by mixing a half-saturated primary colour with a fully saturated primary colour. Learn more about other types of colour mixing below.
