For this week’s visual design mission, I investigated color psychology in design, and how just a slight change in shade or tone can make a huge difference in perception.
Source: Apic/Getty Images
Color is something that has fascinated scientists and artists alike for hundreds of years, starting with Isaac Newton experimenting with light traveling through a glass prism to create a rainbow. Initially, color was viewed as strictly scientific– the study of how light reflects off of different objects, thus discovering a spectrum of color. It wasn’t until later on that psychologists started researching how people perceive certain colors and how it affects them psychologically. Fast forward to modern day where marketing and design have established views on the effects of color on branding, and why companies use the colors that they use.
The Milton Glaser design that skyrocketed his career.
Milton Glaser was a beloved American graphic designer who created some of the most famous pieces, including the I ❤️ NY image, the Bob Dylan poster (above), and several logos for companies including New York Magazine. The Bob Dylan poster was an iconic piece that put him at the forefront of graphic design and had many artists creating their own renditions.
I decided to take a stab at it myself using the silhouette of an iconic (although probably not as well-known) female TV character, Laura Roslin.
One thing that people who know me will say is that I absolutely love the show Battlestar Galactica. I will talk about it whenever I possibly can. Originally aired in 1978 as a short-lived series, the 2004 remake was met with greater success. I guess you could say it’s more of a cult following, but it’s an unbelievable show nonetheless.
One of the female leads, Laura Roslin, is a character that is thrown into the highest position of power after an attack on the 12 colonies. Others constantly cast doubt on her abilities and she is consistently challenged because of her beliefs, especially with the commander of the military. However, her strength and resilience in these unprecedented times prove to be extraordinary, all the while battling breast cancer (not a spoiler, you find that out in the first ten minutes).
Arguably one of the most famous scenes from the series. Slight spoilers? Also great to play when you need motivation.
Finding a picture of Laura in profile was much more difficult than I anticipated, but I ended up finding this one:
After studying color theory, I used this as a base for the silhouette and I was able to create my intricate Glaser version (3 actually) of Laura Roslin:
BLUE
Blue is used in the marketing world to signify wisdom, dependability, and trust. Being president of the colonies, Roslin is the sole source of leadership that the colony looks to. She needs to be trustworthy and strong in a time that is harsh and demoralizing in order to lead what’s left of humanity. Roslin is also the voice of reason when dealing with the head of the military. She is generally very calm and can think things through rationally without losing her temper.
GREEN
Similar to blue, green also has a calming effect. It is associated with life and nature, which is what we see around us every day. Green is also a refreshing color that almost acts as a reset for our mood. In the show, Roslin’s main agenda is to find Earth in order to settle and start anew. Her determination and dedication provide hope for the rest of the fleet.
PINK
Pink is most commonly used to signal femininity. Many brands will use this color to be starkly different and appear out of the box. It is also a very comforting and passionate color. You usually do not see Roslin dress in colors besides blues or greens, but during flashback sequences, she is either wearing pink or red. Despite being the strong, stoic leader of the fleet, she is still a woman, and that side of her is seen through the flashbacks. Pink is also associated with breast cancer awareness, which Roslin suffers from in the show.
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