Process template: building a color scheme
From message to a usable set of colours
§1. Clarify message and target group
- 01Which mood should the colours carry — calm, energetic, exclusive, playful?
- 02Who is the target group, and in what context is the design seen?
- 03Is there already a design guide or fixed brand colors that must be followed?
§2. Choose a main colour
- 01Find the one colour that best carries the message.
- 02Check that color works both large (surfaces) and small (text, details)
- 03Consider the significance of colour in the target group's context.
§3. Build the schedule around it
- 01Choose a harmony: complementary, analogous, triadic or monochromatic.
- 02Add supporting colours and a single accent colour.
- 03Keep the number down — one dominant, few supporting, one accent.
§4. Check readability and accessibility
- 01Is there sufficient brightness contrast between text and background?
- 02Are important messages conveyed by more than color alone (also form or text)?
- 03Do the colors work in the right color space for the output medium (screen or print)?
§5. Document the schedule
- 01Note colour values so they can be reused precisely.
- 02Briefly describe what role each colour has (dominant, supporting, accent).
- 03Save the form so the entire project uses the same colors consistently.