My Teacher Color Palette

    Sight is one of the five major senses of the human body. Even for those of us who cannot physically see, there are ways to describe colors using other senses. For example, one could describe the color of a sunflower as warm as a midsummer day or as a hug from a close friend. The way colors work together invokes a reaction that can be welcoming or distant. This is why as educators, the colors we display in our classrooms, in presentations, and in the clothing we wear, are important to recognize. Each time we chose a color palette, we are choosing what impression our students will have on any given matter.

    Just like when we chose typography (if you are not familiar with typography please see My Typography Post), our audience needs to be kept in mind. It is also important to remember that your color palette should also be readable and legible. However, when choosing a color palette, you have also to keep in mind primary, secondary, and complementary colors. Some colors, like reds, will not look as appealing with certain colors, for example, bright purple. This is due to the lack of contrast, which leads to the colors not being complementary.

    So, how do we know which colors work together and which colors don't? It all comes back to the Primary colors, Red, Blue, and Yellow. These three colors are the parents, if you will, of all other colors. When looking for a color palette (aka the secondary colors), start with these colors from a color wheel and then look at the color opposite, this will be its buddy color. Examples include blue and orange, or yellow and purple. The next step is to change the hues of the colors, which is when you add black or white (or both) to your base color. To showcase how a color palette can look, I have included my example here:

    As you may notice, I added a primary palette and a secondary palette. Both palettes can be used together, or on their own but they each give a warm tone. That is because, to me, it is important that students who see this palette feel welcome, comfortable, and calm. The yellow, which is a primary color, also brings an energized tone as well, which what student couldn't use a little more energy in their day?

    If you want to know more about color palettes or need some inspiration, please enjoy this Beginner Video from YouTube, and check out these Color Combinations on Canva.

Until Next Time!

À bientôt!

-Renee Brady