Colors Colors Colors

10.8.2020

One thing that I'm having a hard time with right now is colors. Colors are a very strong tool because it can change the way you feel and the way you understand the image in front of you. Right now, I am trying to decide on a base color palette for Simplex Minds. This palette would be used for future assets. Whether that's for motion graphics on a potential Youtube channel or even a Simplex Minds Magazine. Uniformity across platforms is what helps create a strong brand. The last thing you want to do is confuse your audience.

This takes me into my journey with colors. I have an absolutely hard time picking colors and knowing what colors truly work with each other. I have never taken an art class. I was a film major. So I think it's time to take the time to understand basic color theory.

(My attempt to) Understanding the Complex

Let's start with the very basics. There are 3 main components to a color.

First we have hue, which is the name of the color (red, green, blue, etc.)

Second we have saturation, which is the intensity of the color. The more saturated the color is, the more of the hue you have. The less saturated it is, the less of the hue you have.

Third we have Value or Lightness, which is the brightness of the color. Value is then broken down further into two categories, tint and shade. Tint means it's a brighter version of the hue or mixed with white. While shade means it's a darker version of the hue or mixed with black.

(I don't know how this helps me with picking a color palette, but at least I have a better understanding of colors and can communicate to artists and graphic designers in the future about colors without sounding stupid lol.)

Now we go into color theory and color schemes:

(Here's a good resource that I came across on basic color schemes)

The main types of color schemes are monochrome, analogous, complimentary, and triadic. Monochrome is a color scheme based on a singular hue with differences in only the saturation and value. An analogous color scheme use colors that neighbor each other in the color wheel. A complimentary color scheme is a color scheme that uses colors that are opposite of each other on the color wheel. And lastly, a triadic color scheme uses 3 colors that are evenly space on the color wheel; creating an equilateral triangle.

What color scheme would work the best for Simplex Minds?

Some kind of complimentary color scheme feels right for Simplex Minds. Simplex at its core is two opposing words that symbiotically work together. Two opposing colors that naturally compliment each other definitely works for Simplex.

What colors should I be looking into?

Each and every color triggers an innate sense of emotion. Whether you recognize that or not, it doesn't matter. Even if you don't want to admit it, colors do affect most people. Each color has a subconscious meaning that we are all conditioned to feel. So here's some colors and the meanings behind them.

Red - passion, danger, fire, aggressive

Orange - fun, optimistic, spontaneous

Yellow - happy, energetic, friendly, caution

Black - seriousness, boldness, power, death

Green - nature, health, medicine, fresh, reliable

Blue - confident, calming, wise, trustful

Purple - wealth, ambition, youth, creative

White - purity, truth, contemporary

Right off the bat, we can at least eliminate green. The colors that I am leaning towards are Blue, Purple, Yellow, Black, and White.

Blue for the sense of confidence, trust, and stability. I want Simplex Minds to be a trustworthy platform for young adults to confidently go to to learn more about their role models that are making the complex look simple.

Purple for the ambition, youth, and creativity. All three of which I feel is deep rooted in the simplex way of life.

Yellow for the friendliness and positive vibes that comes with it.

Black for the boldness, seriousness, and strength.

White for truthfulness and contemporary feel.

I feel like black and white are a given on any sort of branding color palette. You just aren't going to use black and white when it comes to anything text related. That leaves us with Blue, Purple, and Yellow.

I want blue to represent Simplex and be the main color associated with the brand. Purple will represent the "complex" portion and yellow will represent the "simple" portion.

Now it's just time to figure out the specific hue, saturation, and values of each.

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4.3.2021

It's time to get back to this, nearly half a year later lol.

Imma be honest, the colors kicked my ass. Nothing felt right. Was I thinking too much on it? Was I considering too much?

I couldn't find a blue that felt strong but also welcoming. Then try and combine that with a color combo of Purple and Yellow was just too much and just not good. I was definitely trying too hard 6 months ago lmaoo.

In the current state Simplex Minds is in right now, it doesn't need color. Maybe a core color but it definitely doesn't need an expanded palette.

We are currently in the middle of planning. Creating a blueprint to follow. The foundation is about to be poured. With a very abstract vision for the base and loose parameters.

The colors are still to be decided. The look of everything is still to be decided. We will probably get back around to the color identity of Simplex Minds in a year or two once we are more established and have a clearer outlook on everything.

Nothing is set in stone yet. I don't want to lock in a color and have the brand grow and outgrow the color and have to go through a "rebrand" early on. We'll see where we grow and what color best fits our identity. We'll keep it simple with black and white right now. We don't need have everything set right now. This is a journey.

Core Color ETA ~ 2022-2023