An Introduction To Colour psychology

Isaac Newton’s visible spectrum

For the next few weeks, we will be exploring colour in various architectural forms

What is Colour Psychology?

Colour psychology is the study of colours in relation to human behaviour. It aims to determine how colour affects our day to day decisions.

How does Colour Psychology play a role in architecture?

Colour plays a major role when designing the built environment. The choice of colour as designers and clients we choose can have an overwhelming effect on the way a building is perceived by those that view it, walk by it and occupy it each day. So we must ensure we pick these choices carefully, enhancing and creating a physical dialogue with the spaces we create

How does colour relate to culture?

Just like everything we visually process, it strikes a chord with us in various subjective ways based on our cultural backgrounds and experiences.

For example, in the English language, if a person is said to be 'green' he or she feels sick or jealous. Whereas in German, if a person is said to be green he/she is hopeful.

What is the relationship between colour and its perception of it?

The relationship between colour and its perception can be identified as complex, therefore we must aim to understand some of the concepts between colour science and vision.

Colour vision is always dependent on three elements which are;

A: That there is light,

B: That the person’s eye has the ability to see colour - you may have heard of colourblindness

C: That the person’s brain has the ability to process the colour stimulus from the eye

These factors are derived from Isaac Newton's visible spectrum theory