In his talk Colour, Creativity, and Running Away, Designer Martin Jewiss explores the impact colour has on psychological function. Based on recent research, Martin presents his development of a code environment colour palette to help designers and developers improve their creativity and productivity.
Digibury: Martin Jewiss - Colour, Creativity and Running Away
1. Colour, creativity, &… running awa
Exploring the impact of colour on
psychological function to create a
colour palette for code editors
Martin Jewiss
Lead Developer
Mpjdesign
2. This will get better, I promise
Text editors, code editors, IDEs.
Developers
• programming
Creative writers
• concentrate on words not formatting
Designers
• designing in the browser
•
when design needs creating
Colour themes
Help differentiate different code elements
and languages.
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
3. Scratch that itch
New languages for designing and developing
websites appear all the time.
No theme for my favourite code editor that
would work correctly with the languages we
had started using.
Solarized
• A rigorously designed theme
•
•
Intended for use in different environments
Almost constant contrast ratio between
light and dark themes
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
4. Coding Screens are bad for you
Who does not spend too much time in front
of their screen?
• Eye strain
•
Chronic eye damage
A theme that's kind to your eyes?
• Could it help reduce eye strain?
•
Green is supposed to be restful for your
eyes
•
Where's the research?
(A lot of) colour theory is guff
• Creative & scientific folklore
•
Old research with simple, possibly faulty
methodology
•
Subconscious cultural or ethnic bias
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
5. Coding Screens are bad for you
Who does not spend too much time in front
of their screen?
• Eye strain
•
Chronic eye damage
A theme that's kind to your eyes?
• Could it help reduce eye strain?
•
Green is supposed to be restful for your
eyes
•
Where's the research?
(A lot of) colour theory is guff
• Creative & scientific folklore
•
Old research with simple, possibly faulty
methodology
•
Subconscious cultural or ethnic bias
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
6. Some fine people thought the same…
Stephanie Lichtenfeld, University of Munich
Andrew Elliot, University of Rochester, New York
Markus Maier, University of Munich
Reinhard Pekrun, University of Munich
A lack of scientifically rigorous theory about colour psychology.
A general model of colour and psychological functioning.
Assumptions
• Colours can communicate specific meanings
•
We are biologically predisposed to respond to different colours in
different ways in particular situations (Nature)
•
Learned associations play a part (Nurture)
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
7. So they experimented on guinea pigs people…
Basic methodology
1. Expose test subjects to a colour (e.g. red
door)
2. Ask subjects to perform tasks which
measure intellectual or creative
performance (e.g. solve an anagram, list how
many ways can a tin can be used?)
3. Measure activity in specific regions of the
subject’s brain
4. Debrief the subject to confirm age, gender,
ethnicity, and their conscious reaction to
the test
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
8. And they found…
Red
• Reduced intellectual performance but
increased mental effort
•
•
•
Undermined analytical performance
No influence on creativity
May help with basic detail-oriented
cognitive tasks requiring little mental
processing
Green
• Improved performance in creative tasks
•
•
No influence on analytical performance
Effects were sub-conscious
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
9. Run Away! or Come Here!
•
•
•
Very different results in social situations
•
•
•
What about colour blindness?
Context is key
Research may be refined or disproved, both
leading to different conclusions
What about physiological effects?
Other factors will probably affect you more
- the flu anyone?
But it’s the best information available now.
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
10. 1.6180339887…
Also known as:
• The Golden Section
•
•
•
•
•
Phi
Golden Ratio
Medial Section
Divine Proportion
etc.
a:b is the same ratio as a+b:b
Used, seen, or experienced in:
• Art
•
•
•
•
•
Architecture and Design
Music
Nature
Mathematics
http://onlyhdwallpapers.com/high-definition-wallpaper/spiral-golden-ratio-desktop-hd-wallpaper-379454/
Perception studies
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
11. 1.6180339887…
Also known as:
• The Golden Section
•
•
•
•
•
Phi
Golden Ratio
Medial Section
Divine Proportion
etc.
a:b is the same ratio as a+b:b
Used, seen, or experienced in:
• Art
•
•
•
•
•
Architecture and Design
Music
Nature
Mathematics
Max Ronnersjö
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aeonium_tabuliforme.jpg
Perception studies
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
12. 1.6180339887…
Also known as:
• The Golden Section
•
•
•
•
•
Phi
Golden Ratio
Medial Section
Divine Proportion
etc.
a:b is the same ratio as a+b:b
Used, seen, or experienced in:
• Art
•
•
•
•
•
Architecture and Design
Music
Nature
Mathematics
Andrew Baldwin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parthenon_night_view.jpg
Perception studies
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
13. It's colour Jim, but not as we know it
Colour spaces are imperfect scientific models
to work with and communicate colour
information.
Calculations to translate a colour between
colour spaces are also imperfect.
sRGB
(red, green, blue)
Used in monitors, televisions, cameras…
HSL
(Hue, Saturation, Lightness)
Variant of the classic colour wheel.
CIE L*a*b*
(Lightness, a-axis, b-axis)
Approximates human perception of colour.
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
14. It's colour Jim, but not as we know it
Colour spaces are imperfect scientific models
to work with and communicate colour
information.
Calculations to translate a colour between
colour spaces are also imperfect.
sRGB
(red, green, blue)
Used in monitors, televisions, cameras…
HSL
(Hue, Saturation, Lightness)
Variant of the classic colour wheel.
CIE L*a*b*
(Lightness, a-axis, b-axis)
Approximates human perception of colour.
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
15. It's colour Jim, but not as we know it
Colour spaces are imperfect scientific models
to work with and communicate colour
information.
Calculations to translate a colour between
colour spaces are also imperfect.
sRGB
(red, green, blue)
Used in monitors, televisions, cameras…
HSL
(Hue, Saturation, Lightness)
Variant of the classic colour wheel.
CIE L*a*b*
(Lightness, a-axis, b-axis)
Approximates human perception of colour.
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
16. The Golden Section meets L*a*b*
L* = +50
Best colour “purity”
a* axis
Negative: 128/φ² = -49
b* axis
Positive: 128/φ = +79
Conversions
RGB: 53, 137, 0
Hex: 358900
Hue: 97°
Saturation: 100%
Lightness: 27%
Luminance: 43%
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
17. Enlightenment
Contrast ratio: the perceived brightness of
foreground against background.
Contrast ratio for AAA web accessibility: 7:1
Contrast ratio AA web accessibility: 4.5:1
1. Use Golden Section to calculate points on
the L* axis, starting at L*=50.
2. Contrast trials using combinations of dark
green background and light green text.
3. Final choice: a judgement made under
office lighting.
A lower contrast alternative may will be
useful for working in lower light.
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
18. Enlightenment
Contrast ratio: the perceived brightness of
foreground against background.
Contrast ratio for AAA web accessibility: 7:1
Contrast ratio AA web accessibility: 4.5:1
1. Use Golden Section to calculate points on
the L* axis, starting at L*=50.
2. Contrast trials using combinations of dark
green background and light green text.
3. Final choice: a judgement made under
office lighting.
A lower contrast alternative may will be
useful for working in lower light.
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
20. Going round in circles
The HSL Colour Wheel
Use angles to calculate harmonious colour
combinations:
• Complementary
•
•
•
Triadic
Tetradic
Analogic
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
21. Going round in circles
The HSL Colour Wheel
Use angles to calculate harmonious colour
combinations:
• Complementary
•
•
•
Triadic
Tetradic
Analogic
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
22. Going round in circles
The HSL Colour Wheel
Use angles to calculate harmonious colour
combinations:
• Complementary
•
•
•
Triadic
Tetradic
Analogic
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
23. Going round in circles
The HSL Colour Wheel
Use angles to calculate harmonious colour
combinations:
• Complementary
•
•
•
Triadic
Tetradic
Analogic
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
24. Going round in more circles
1. Plot colours 30° apart
Visually perceived brightness
We don't perceive all colours of the same
lightness to have the same brightness.
2. Luminance: 43%
3. Remove some colours
Increase the difference in hue between those
that remain.
4. Tinkering with contrast ratios
5. Replace red with grey
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
25. Going round in more circles
1. Plot colours 30° apart
Visually perceived brightness
We don't perceive all colours of the same
lightness to have the same brightness.
2. Luminance: 43%
3. Remove some colours
Increase the difference in hue between those
that remain.
4. Tinkering with contrast ratios
5. Replace red with grey
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
26. Going round in more circles
1. Plot colours 30° apart
Visually perceived brightness
We don't perceive all colours of the same
lightness to have the same brightness.
2. Luminance: 43%
3. Remove some colours
Increase the difference in hue between those
that remain.
4. Tinkering with contrast ratios
5. Replace red with grey
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
27. Wallace: the not-so-final colour palette
There is still a lot to do:
• Revisit perceived brightness values and
conversion algorithms
•
•
•
•
•
•
Complete Wallace for Espresso
Translate Wallace to Textmate and Sublime
Create a lower contrast version
License questions
Publish on Github
Does it work? A nice research project…
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.
28. https:/
/github.com/martinjewiss/wallace
Contact
@mjmpjdesign
martin@mpjdesign.ltd.uk
www.mpjdesign.ltd.uk
References
Lichtenfeld, S., Elliot, A.J., Maier, M.A., & Pekrun, R. (2012). Fertile Green:
Green Facilitates Creative Performance. Personality and Social Psychology
Bulletin, 38, 784–797.
Elliot, A.J., & Maier, M.A. (2007). Color and Psychological Functioning.
Current Directions in Psychological Science, 16, 250–254.
Thanks
John: workwithcolor.com
Tobias Stamm: manderim.ch
Ian Beck: macrabbit.com
Kieran Patel: @kieranajp
Other Tools
leaverou.github.io/contrast-ratio
ethanschoonover.com/solarized
Colour, creativity, and… running away.
Martin Jewiss, Lead Designer, Mpjdesign.