Color psychology PDF

7/23/2019 Color psychology PDF

1/16

COLOR PSYCHOLOGYM.N.U. Daniel Acosta Ruiz

A color impression is not only amechanism of seeing, but also a

sensation & feeling. Frank H. Mahnke.


2/16

For the physicist, color is a wavelength of light that an object eithergenerates or reflects. This means we use the language of the

physicist to describe the sensory stimuli we percibe as color.

In the language of psychologist that describes what effects these

stimuli have upon us.

For the physicist, red, for example, equals an externalstimulus of a light wave that has a fecuency of627-780 nanometers.

For a psychologist, red suggests an internal processthat may o may not be associeated with a physicalevent.

COLOR PSYCHOLOGY


3/16

COLOR IS ESSENTIAL FOR

LIFE

Most people who hear about color psychology for the first timeoften voice opinion that it does not really affect them. They Claim

they have their own tastes and preferences, and after all, arent thesereactions to color all subjective?

This is one of the reasons whytoo often color in architectural

environment is assigned asecondary or cosmetic role.


4/16

BIOLOGICAL REACTIONS TO

A COLOR STIMULUS

Green and blue light thwart activity in

mice, and under pink light rats becomemore aggressive.

Chikens have layed more eggsunder red light.


5/16

CULTURAL INFLUENCES

Color associations, symbolism, impressions andmannerism that are characteristic of specific cultures

and groups.

Turquoise.- National color for Persia

Green .- Religious significance in Islam

Greeks .- Find all color to be refined

The Japanese.- Respond deeply to the gentle color of water sky andwood.


6/16

INFLUENCE OF TRENDS,

FASHIONS, STYLES

In interior design andarchitecture, color trends

apper more slowly than infashion and cosumerproducts.

Color changes are necessary toadapt the spirit of a particular time.Thats why its so difficult to acceptnew color trends in the creation of

the architectural environment.


7/16


FASHIONS, STYLES

Designer and architects who areunsure in their use of color have a

tendency to plat it safe and copycolor trends.

In architecture we need to find themiddle between using hardly anycolor and the other extreme of

being too colorful.


8/16


FASHIONS, STYLES

Over-excitation environments can be distractors and

interfering with work tasks that require visualconcentration.

Under-stimulated environments is as unacceptable asthe over-stimulated one.


9/16

COLOR ASSOCIATION STUDY

TERM COLOR PERCENTAGE

LOVE RED 81%

HATTED BLACK 89.6%

PEACE /TRANQUILITY

BLUE, BLUE-GREEN, GREEN

93.6%

SORROW BLACK, GRAY 86%

HAPPYYELLOW,ORANGE

63%

JOVIALORANGE,YELLOW

50%

LIFE GREEN 73%

COLOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND HUMAN RESPONSE. P. 55


10/16

COLOR EFFECTS IN THE

INTERIOR SPACE

A color will influence a rooms character diffentlydepending on whether it is located on the floor, walls

or ceiling.


11/16


INTERIOR SPACE

PINK

Ceiling Delicate, conforting

Walls Aggression - intimate

FloorToo delicate - unfamiliar in

this location

ORANGE

CeilingStimulating, attention -

seeking

Walls Warm, luminous

FloorActivating, motion

oriented


12/16


INTERIOR SPACE

BROWN

Ceiling Oppresive and heavy

WallsSecure and assuring ifwood, less so if paint

Floor Stable

YELLOW

Ceiling Light, luminous, stimulating

WallsWarm, exciting to

irritating

Floor Elevating, diverting


13/16


INTERIOR SPACE

GREEN

Ceiling Protective

Walls Cool, secure, calm, passive

Floor Natural, soft, relaxing

BLUE

CeilingCelestial, cool, less

tangibly

Walls Cool and distant

FloorFeeling of effortless

movement


14/16


INTERIOR SPACE

GRAY

Ceiling Shadowy

Walls Neutral to boring

Floor Neutral

White

CeilingEmpty, no design

objections

WallsNeutral to empty, sterile,

without energy

FloorTouch-inhibiting (no to be

walked upon)


15/16


INTERIOR SPACE

BLACK

Ceiling Hollow to oppressive

Walls Ominous, dungeonlike

Floor Abstract, odd.


16/16

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Color, Environment, & Human Response.

Frank H. Mahnke

Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1996.

Documents

Color psychology PDF