[marcbubb]

Colour theory and gender differences in graphic design and advertising

Hi i am a graphic design student studying at the Arts Institute at Bournemouth currently writing my dissertation on the differences in colour preference for male and females in advertising and design.
I am looking to see what other designers and consumers views are on colour and how it can .

A) Influence and inform their design and approach as a designer

B) If as designers you are aware of the part colour plays in modern society and how it can effect the mood and tone of a piece or design.

C) As a consumer do you feel that the colour of a design can make or break your design to purchase and take note or totally disregard it?

D) As designers do you have and formulas that you follow to ensure that the correct colours you use are appropriate?

It is a very interesting and deep subject so i hope you will write a response to this thread and aid me in my research.
any comments would be greatly appreciated and I will respond to and questions or queries or arguments that you have.

Also please feel free to post links and information that u feel may be of use to me in my research

Thank you for your time

Regards
marc

[steveb]

Once is enough Marc.

Colour influences us in several ways. We all have our favourite colour schemes and will try to fob them off in every single job we put forward.

You suggest that colour plays a role in modern society. I need a few examples from you to judge whether this is so. Certainly I prefer living in an architecturally mainly white environment than what e.g. Bournemouth has on offer to global urban design.

Successful industrial design is my first criterion before making a purchase - assuming here that design genuinely plays a role. I don't care how my broccoli is packaged but I do pay attention to the shape of a kitchen stool. Colour is one with the design, they cannot be separated. Both shape and colour reflect the designer's aesthetic thought process, as do shape and decoration.

Of course as a designer I have a keen awareness of the appropriateness of certain colours to certain commercial applications. But there is no formula. Only common sense. Imagine advertising bread with a blue or green text. Mould! Or a line of feminine intimate products based on red. They're always pastel-toned for a reason, mainly that a used tampon is red and manufacturers are interested in selling fresh new ones. Try advertising a car to a male or female audience featuring an orange-coloured vehicle. No sales. (I never understood that one, but it's absolutely the case).

These are some ideas which I regard as facts. Let's see what others have to say. And stop posting twice.

[jamblo]

Hello Bubbs!

[marcbubb]

lol cheers for the reply. yeh only reason i posted twice was that i thought that my first post hadnt posted so i tried again.. i know now that its on here twice..sorry,

hey rocket

[Tom_E]

Originally Posted by steveb

Try advertising a car to a male or female audience featuring an orange-coloured vehicle. No sales. (I never understood that one, but it's absolutely the case).

Ford Focus RS at Geneva Motor Show – very well received, cracking car.

[oli]

I see loads of the orange Focus RS' knocking about

[steveb]

But you never see them in advertising is the point I was daring to make.

I know they exist. One Finnish nationwide estate agency uses orange for its identity and so of course its cars are orange too. They have to trade them at a hugely reduced price, well below the national average, because of the colour. Maybe it's just a Finlandic thing.

[Tom_E]

Originally Posted by steveb

But you never see them in advertising is the point I was daring to make.

Yes you do, starting with the Ford Focus RS, there was a big advertising campaign with the bright orange vehicle obviously being the main subject – very decent sales too.

Audi S3 also very popular in orange:

[steveb]

Then it's a Finnish thing. Due to the universal hatred of estate agents, of course.

[Tom_E]

Originally Posted by steveb

Then it's a Finnish thing.

Probably a global thing to be fair, the above cases are exceptions to the rule I guess.

I don't think your average family car would sell particularly well if advertised in bright orange.

Good lesson for marcbub though – rules are there to be broken (sometimes, and once you understand the rules in the first place).

[jamblo]

Usability Post » A Guide to Choosing Colors for Your Brand