I am going to start a series on what makes a good website primarily because I feel like I am always coming up with something new to add and there are so many pieces that go into it that I will end up with a gigantic article that should have been split up anyway.
So.. today’s topic is Color Schemes. The color scheme itself is one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle not only because it takes the longest to come up with and fine-tune but because of its importance in the overall picture. Color schemes need to be more than a coordinated bunch of tables and icons. A neon purple set may match, but it isn’t necessarily a good color scheme.
Schemes need to first have eye appeal. They need to be pleasing on the eyes in a way that looks clean, crisp and clear but not so distracting that you can’t see the most vital piece of a website, the content. I remember reading something in my early design days about whitespace. If whitespace is used properly it can have a most dramatic effect both for that clean feeling and visual ease in viewing the page.
Use colors that don’t detract from one another. The colors should compliment each other. By complimenting I don’t mean matching, even a site done in the prettiest, most eye-appealing blues although can be pulled off isn’t always the best usage of color. Some contrasting colors are generally a good idea to help draw attention to or away from certain areas and to help focus the attention where it should be. Blues with a nice coordinating set of grays or beiges etc. can give a calm feeling.
Knowing and understanding what different colors mean and the impact they have is also important. A fantastic book on this is Color Harmony 2: A Guide to Creative Color Combinations
Remember that although it is “pretty” to you, someone who may have vision impairments may not see it the same way. Again use plenty of whitespace so that things can be easily seen and separated. The same is true of text. Black text on a white or super light background is preferred. Now this does not mean that you can’t use other options and text colors elsewhere but save that for areas that are primarily for visual appeal such as menus and not for areas that require a lot of reading.
Pay attention to your target market. If you are designing for an older market, stick with plain colors. If you are designing for a younger market you might be able to get away with some different variations. Although I am not a big fan of neon or overly bright or fluorescent types of colors I will admit I have seen some websites that I think look fantastic utilizing some of those colors. It is all about coordinating and contrasting the colors appropriately.
Don’t forget your images!
Although sometimes you will have existing images, we all know that web designers often end up going outside of their realm and finding or creating images. It is important that the images match the color scheme as well. Images are a terrific way to accentuate a site and compliment your color scheme. Even a beginner can change a few colors on an image to help draw out even more colors and add a bit of flair.
