The document provides an overview of color theory concepts relevant for user interface designers, including the additive and subtractive color systems, color wheel terminology like hue and saturation, color relationships like analogous and complementary, and tips for using color effectively in user interfaces. Some key points are ensuring text readability through sufficient color contrast, avoiding contrasts that cause eye fatigue, and using color consistently to establish conventions and enhance the user experience.

1. The Art of Colors A few tips for user interface designers by elisa giaccardi [email_address]

2. Let’s warm up !

3. Let’s start with some basics

4. There are two color systems

5. Additive Subtractive red + green + blue = white magenta + yellow + cyan = black

6. UI designers use the additive system

7. What is this jargon ? hue brilliance saturation

11. What are these ? primary secondary tertiary colors

12. Learn the color wheel

13. Another way to visualize

14. Another way to visualize

15. Primary colors

16. Secondary colors

17. Tertiary colors

18. Analogous colors

19. Opposite colors are complementary

20. Combinations of opposite or analogous colors are harmonic

21. Now you know the jargon too!

22. Wasn’t it additive ?

23. Web color wheel

24. Do colors have personality ?

26. © Edward Burtynsky What about this orange ?

27. © Philip-Lorca diCorcia How about this yellow ?

28. © Cindy Sherman And what about this green ?

29. It’s about relationships

30. Dynamic relationship

31. Dynamic-static relationship

32. Static relationship

33. It’s a matter of contrast

38. It’s about balance

41. Think with your eyes !

42. Color palette tips & tools

43. Strive for harmony

44. Be mindful of contrast effects

45. Understand color dominance

47. Rules of thumb for UI designers

53. Some good readings

55. Slides available at