No. 020
Visual Design
Color Theory
Color theory is the set of principles for combining colors to create harmony, contrast, and meaning.
Why it matters
Color affects emotion, draws attention, and communicates state. Used poorly, it confuses or fatigues; used well, it guides and delights.
In depth
Color theory includes concepts like hue, saturation, value, and relationships such as complementary or analogous palettes. In product design, color also encodes meaning and state, and must meet accessibility contrast standards. Restrained palettes usually feel more premium than rainbow ones.
Real-world example
Using red for destructive actions and green for confirmation taps into widely shared color associations to set expectations.
Base
Comp.
Analog −30
Analog +30
Base hue200°
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