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The same color can have different psychological effects on people in different surroundings. How can this knowledge help designers create emotionally powerful color palettes? By playing around with hues, saturation, and value, you can create a vast number of color palettes for any industry or product type.

With modern tools like Coolors, you can adjust the HSB, RGB, and CMYK values for any color, pick the exact shade of each color, or isolate the color you like most and try it with different color combinations. If you like the colors of a certain picture or movie scene, you can even upload it to Coolors and receive a color palette based on the image.

Exercise #1

Elegant color palettes

Elegant color palettes Bad Practice
Elegant color palettes Best Practice

Creating an elegant color palette involves selecting colors that convey sophistication and harmony. Elegant palettes often feature soft, muted tones and complementary colors. For example, a classic palette might include navy blue, soft gray, and ivory. This combination gives a sense of calm and refinement.

Another elegant palette is blush pink, gold, and white. The warmth of gold paired with the subtlety of blush pink and the purity of white creates a luxurious feel. A more modern palette could include emerald green, charcoal, and cream. The deep green brings richness, while charcoal adds depth, and cream provides a neutral balance.

Such color palettes could be a great fit for e-commerce websites selling high-end beauty or eco-friendly products, as well as for meditation or yoga apps, among others. Keep in mind that these are just examples, and there are many more combinations you can try to achieve a refined look for your product.

Exercise #2

Passionate colors

Passionate colors Bad Practice
Passionate colors Best Practice

Passionate color palettes tend to evoke strong emotions and energy. These palettes often feature bold, vibrant hues and high contrast. For example, a passionate palette might include deep red, black, and gold. This combination creates a dramatic and intense look.

A romantic palette could include rich burgundy, blush pink, and cream. The deep burgundy brings intensity, while blush pink softens the look, and cream adds balance.

Such color palettes are perfect for dating apps, fitness websites, or sports brands, where energy and enthusiasm are key.

Exercise #3

Cheerful color palettes

Cheerful color palettes Bad Practice
Cheerful color palettes Best Practice

Cheerful color palettes are made of bright and lively colors that evoke happiness and positivity. These palettes often feature vibrant and playful hues that bring a sense of fun and energy. For example, a cheerful palette might include sunny yellow, sky blue, and bright coral.

Another option is lime green, tangerine, and turquoise, which together create a fresh and energetic vibe. A playful palette could include bubblegum pink, lemon yellow, and mint green.

Think of logos that represent Slack, Google, eBay — they all use similar color palettes to underline fun, friendliness, creativity, energy, diversity, and even nonconformity.[1]

Exercise #4

Trustworthy color palettes

Trustworthy color palettes Bad Practice
Trustworthy color palettes Best Practice

A trustworthy color palette usually includes colors that convey reliability and stability. These palettes often feature muted, neutral tones and classic combinations that inspire confidence. For example, a trustworthy palette might include navy blue, soft gray, and white. Navy blue is known for its association with professionalism and authority, while gray adds neutrality, and white provides clarity.

Another option is forest green, beige, and charcoal. The green represents growth and stability, beige offers warmth, and charcoal adds depth and seriousness.

A traditional palette could include deep brown, tan, and cream. Brown brings a sense of earthiness and dependability, while tan and cream add warmth and balance.

These color palettes are well-suited for financial services or healthcare websites where trust and credibility are essential.

Exercise #5

Whimsical color palettes

Whimsical color palettes Bad Practice
Whimsical color palettes Best Practice

Whimsical color palettes tend to have colors that evoke a sense of playfulness and imagination. These palettes often feature unexpected combinations and vibrant, pastel hues that add a touch of magic. For example, a whimsical palette might include lavender, mint green, and peach. This combination creates a dreamy and enchanting feel. Another option is periwinkle blue, lemon yellow, and cotton candy pink, which together convey a sense of wonder and joy.

A fantastical palette could include teal, coral, and lilac. The teal adds a touch of mystery, while coral and lilac bring vibrancy and charm.

These color palettes are perfect for children’s websites, fantasy-themed apps, and creative arts platforms, where a sense of fun and imagination is key.

Exercise #6

Intriguing color palettes

Intriguing color palettes Bad Practice
Intriguing color palettes Best Practice

The intriguing color palette evokes intrigue and depth. These often feature dark, rich tones and unexpected combinations that draw viewers in and spark curiosity. For example, a mysterious palette might include deep purple, midnight blue, and black. This combination creates an enigmatic and captivating atmosphere.

Another option is emerald green, dark teal, and charcoal gray, which together convey a sense of secrecy and allure. A moody palette could include burgundy, indigo, and muted gold. The burgundy adds warmth, while indigo brings depth, and the muted gold offers a hint of mystery and elegance.

These color palettes are ideal for exotic product websites and luxury brands that want to convey a sense of intrigue and sophistication.

Exercise #7

Tense color palettes

Tense color palettes Bad Practice
Tense color palettes Best Practice

Tense color palettes are designed to create a feeling of suspense and urgency. They often include high-contrast colors and sharp, edgy tones that evoke intensity and drama.

Consider a palette featuring crimson red, black, and white. This combination creates a stark and intense contrast, perfect for capturing attention and conveying tension.

Another option is electric blue, dark gray, and bright yellow. The electric blue and bright yellow bring energy and vibrancy, while the dark gray adds depth and seriousness.

For a more edgy look, try blood orange, steel gray, and midnight green. The boldness of blood orange paired with the coolness of steel gray and the darkness of midnight green creates a sense of unease and anticipation.

Tense color palettes are ideal for thriller games, emergency alert apps, and suspenseful storytelling platforms, where a sense of urgency and excitement is essential.

Exercise #8

Hopeful color palettes

Hopeful color palettes Bad Practice
Hopeful color palettes Best Practice

Hopeful color palettes aim to convey optimism and positivity through uplifting and harmonious color combinations. These palettes often include soft, warm hues and light, airy tones that inspire a sense of hope and renewal.

Consider using soft pastels like blush pink, sky blue, and pale yellow. This combination creates a gentle and calming effect, evoking feelings of peace and optimism. Another option is mint green, lavender, and coral. These colors bring freshness and vibrancy, symbolizing growth and new beginnings.

For a more earthy feel, try sage green, warm beige, and soft peach. The natural tones offer a grounding effect, while the peach adds warmth and cheerfulness.

These palettes are well-suited for wellness apps, mental health platforms, community-building websites, and any project that seeks to promote a positive and hopeful message.

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