The Color Effect: How Your Palette Affects Learners

Did you know there’s a psychology behind colors? That’s because colors affect our emotions and physical state. Red can quicken the pulse, blue can calm someone down, and yellow can cause eye strain and irritation. This information is important to know when you’re developing e-learning and choosing color schemes.

However, I do want to note that the definitions in this article are targeted mostly for western cultures. Depending on the culture or country specific to your learners, colors might have different meanings and significance, so know your audience.

Yellow

Yellow is a bright color that is often described as cheerful and optimistic; however, it is also fatiguing to the eye due to the high amount of light reflected in it. Because yellow is the most visible color, it’s often used for traffic signs.

Key Terms: Optimism, Caution, Warmth, Clarity, Friendliness, Creativity

Red

Red is a powerful and attention-grabbing color. Its effect is physical, as it stimulates our attention and raises the pulse rate. It is lively and friendly, but can also be perceived as demanding and aggressive.

Key Terms: Excitement, Passion, Fire, Boldness, Youthful, Hot, Spicy, Action, Determination

Orange

Orange is the color of communication and optimism. As a combination of red and yellow, it is considered an energetic color. It’s also stimulating, which is why it’s often used for traffic signs and advertising.

Key Terms: Passion, Fun, Warmth, Communication, Security, Immaturity

Pink

Pink is associated with love, romance, and nurturing. It’s also thought to have a calming effect. Being a tint of red, pink also affects us physically, but it soothes rather than stimulates. Pink also often represents femininity.

Key Terms: Tranquility, Nurturing, Warmth, Femininity, Love

Purple

Purple is the color of the imagination; it can be viewed as creative and individual, or immature and impractical. The color purple is traditionally the symbol of royalty and wealth, and it also represents wisdom and spirituality.

Key Terms: Creativity, Wisdom, Spirituality, Wealth, Imaginative, Royalty

Indigo

Indigo is the color of intuition and wisdom. It can represent idealism and structure, as well as ritual and addiction.

Key Terms: Integrity, Structure, Idealism, Faithful, Intuition, Wisdom

Blue

Blue is the color of trust and peace. It can suggest loyalty, calmness, and integrity as well as conservatism and frigidity. It is often described as serene, tranquil, secure, and orderly. Blue can also create feelings of sadness or aloofness.

Key Terms: Trust, Logic, Communication, Intelligence, Strength, Masculinity, Coldness, Aloofness

Green

Green symbolizes nature and the natural world. It also represents balance, growth, tranquility, good luck, health, and jealousy. The color green has long been a symbol of fertility, and it’s also thought to relieve stress and help heal.

Key Terms: Environment, Cleanliness, Peaceful, Calmness, Growth, Health, Nature

How do you like to use color in your projects? Please share your experience in the comments below!

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21 Comments

Joanna Kurpiewska

over 5 years ago03/27/15 at 4:33 pm (UTC)

That's great article, Nicole. Colors have a power! As a supplement to the topic I recommend this infographic "The Psychology of Logo Color and Font Style": http://krishnainfographics.com/the-psychology-of-logo-color-and-font-style-2/

over 5 years ago03/27/15 at 5:12 pm (UTC)

Thanks for the comment, Joanna! Great link, thank you for sharing that. I really love the "handmade look" of that graphic.

Jacqueline Hutchinson

over 5 years ago03/27/15 at 5:07 pm (UTC)

This is a great post Nicole! Thank you! As I was reading the colours I noticed that when you got to purple, my favourite colour (I seldom go a day without wearing SOMETHING purple) I was reminded of being told recently that purple was "a child's colour"... but I love it and won't stop wearing it! Thanks for making the connection to Creativity and Imagination! I can now validate my colour choice, although, I have yet to use it as a main colour in a course ;-)

Nicole Legault
Author
Jacqueline Hutchinson

over 5 years ago03/27/15 at 5:15 pm (UTC)

Thanks for popping by and leaving your comment, Jacqueline! I'm also a big fan of purple :) If you're looking for fun ideas or cool ways to incorporate purple into e-learning you might actually want to have a peek at this past Weekly E-Learning Challenge: https://community.articulate.com/articles/radiant-orchid-template-pantone . Last years Pantone Color of the Year was Radiant Orchid and we had a challenge all about using that color. Got some cool submissions, if you ask me! :)

over 5 years ago03/27/15 at 5:20 pm (UTC)

Jacqueline, the next time someone calls it "a child's colour" correct them; it is the colour of royalty. Elizabeth I would not allow anyone but close family to wear the colour purple.

over 5 years ago03/27/15 at 5:27 pm (UTC)

Thanks so much for those two comments! Nicole, I WILL check out that challenge! I know David says it is never too late to post to them so .... who knows. Linda, AWESOME comment. I'll definitely keep that one in mind as a cool-kid comeback!

Jeff Kortenbosch
Hero

over 5 years ago03/30/15 at 1:17 pm (UTC)

Great post, I'm an Indigo man myself. If it works for Superman, it works for me! Funny how caution is Yellow, I'd expect that with Red. Also, nice interaction!

Michael O.

over 5 years ago03/30/15 at 4:43 pm (UTC)

There is a great source of of color schemes that work with complementary tools. https://color.adobe.com/

Jonathan Blount

over 5 years ago03/30/15 at 6:58 pm (UTC)

Thanks for the post Nicole! I will keep in mind how colors affect learners from here on out.

CHRISTINE OMALLEY

over 5 years ago03/31/15 at 12:05 pm (UTC)

Thanks Nicole! I'm also a 'purple' gal :-)

Natasha Patel

over 5 years ago03/31/15 at 12:58 pm (UTC)

Awesome article.........:-) tx

Sue Antonissen

over 5 years ago04/01/15 at 5:47 pm (UTC)

I loved the interactive infographic! It's a fun way to present the color effect and also sparked a few ideas for upcoming courses I'm creating.

Cary Glenn
Hero

over 5 years ago04/02/15 at 5:00 pm (UTC)

I liked the design of the infographic, even if you misspell colour. Can you give a link to the original research on colours and personality?

over 5 years ago04/06/15 at 8:09 pm (UTC)

Hi Cary! Here's a few of the sources I used: http://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/meaning-of-colors.html http://www.colour-affects.co.uk/psychological-properties-of-colours http://www.empower-yourself-with-color-psychology.com/meaning-of-colors.html

over 5 years ago04/06/15 at 8:10 pm (UTC)

PS I know, I know, I always want to add my "u" to color... but... it's an American company :)

Tineke Porschen

over 5 years ago04/08/15 at 5:39 am (UTC)

Thank you Nicole. I always spent quite a time looking for the colors I want to use in a project. I like to play at www.colourlovers.com and use the patterns I make as background or as a part of an image.

Carla Kelley-Gonzales

over 5 years ago04/08/15 at 6:16 pm (UTC)

Great article! I loved the demo as well. The colors I use depend upon what business line I'm working with when designing course content. Each business line has a logo then I use the color pallet that coordinates. I've used red or yellow for cautions or to draw attention to a key point in a graphic.

Carol Levin

over 5 years ago05/20/15 at 1:58 am (UTC)

I enjoyed the article and demo, and although I am a big fan of Roy G Biv, what's missing here is the earth tone palette, a calm backdrop for a lot of my content. Any thoughts on that, folks?