Colour is everywhere…on our walls, in our wardrobes, across our screens, and even in our moods. But beyond its beauty, colour is packed with fascinating stories and science! You don’t have to be a designer to appreciate the nuances of colour…here are some fun facts about colour that might just brighten your day!
YOU CAN’T SEE ALL THE COLOURS
Humans can see about one million colours, but that’s just a fraction of what exists. Bees and butterflies can see ultraviolet light, which is invisible to us. No matter how well you think you can see colour, some shrimp species are the true MVPs, detecting up to 12 colour channels to our three!
COLOUR CHANGES HOW WE FEEL
Ever notice how blue feels calming and red energizing? Colour psychology shows that hues can influence our emotions, productivity, and even appetite! That’s why fast food logos often use red and yellow…they’re known to stimulate hunger!
WHITE ISN’T ALWAYS WHITE
In printing, white isn’t just the absence of colour, it’s often the colour of the paper itself. Different paper stocks have different shades of white, from warm ivory to cool blue-white. That’s why choosing the right paper is so important!
COLOUR IS CULTURAL
Red means luck in China, mourning in South Africa, and love in Canada. Colours carry different meanings around the world, so it’s always good to know your audience! What’s cheerful in our culture may be solemn in another.
MEN AND WOMEN SEE RED DIFFERENTLY
Speaking of the colour red, the ability to see it comes from a gene attached to the X chromosome. Since women have two X chromosomes, they can perceive the red-orange spectrum better than men. However, regardless of sex, red is the first colour a baby sees (explaining their love of Elmo!).
WE SEE COLOUR DIFFERENTLY AS WE AGE
As we get older, our eyes’ lenses yellow slightly, which can affect how we perceive colours, especially blues and purples. That’s one reason why accessibility in design matters: not everyone sees colours the same way.
YOUR EYES SEE COLOUR WITH HELP FROM YOUR BRAIN
Your eyes detect light, but it’s your brain that interprets it as colour. That’s why optical illusions trick us into seeing colours that aren’t really there. It’s also why lighting can dramatically change how a colour looks.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE A “COLOUR PHOBIA”
Chromophobia, or chromatophobia, is an ongoing and irrational fear of colours that can have a negative effect on a person’s daily activities. This fear often stems from a traumatic event associated with a particular colour.
BLUE IS THE WORLD’S FAVOURITE COLOUR
Across global surveys, blue consistently ranks as the most popular colour. It’s associated with trust, calm, and stability…no wonder it’s used in so many logos and uniforms.
PINK WAS ONCE A MASCULINE COLOUR
In the early 20th century, pink was considered a strong and masculine colour, while blue was seen as delicate and feminine. It wasn’t until the 1940s that the roles reversed in western culture. Fashion and marketing played a big part in that shift!
