Having trouble when it comes to choosing brand colors? Well… you are not alone! In this blog post we will be checking out how to pick colors that revolve around YOUR distinguishable style and the importance of color/style consistency.
When it came to choosing a brand color scheme, I had to bounce around between many ideas before finding something I liked. You may have heard before that all colors have a specific meaning. This is completely true! Common moods relating to the color wheel is shown below:
While these meanings can have great importance, I do not think that it should be the end all be all when deciding your own personal color palette. Instead, I took a slightly less conventional approach through my own branding, while keeping the above color meanings in mind. My approach can be mapped out below:
Step 1. Find images that make me feel something. This is broad I know, but it is supposed to be broad! Everyone feels differently when looking at a photograph, and I want you to find photos that make you feel. Below are three photos I played around with myself. (I recommend using royalty free images or an image of your own.)
Step 2. Narrow down your photo choice to one option. This photo should be the overall feeling you want of your brand! I went with the one below:
Step 3. Go on an editing software that gives you an option for an eyedropper tool. Personally, I always go with Canva, since it is free and gives me a place to work on all my branding elements online.
Step 4. Open a blank document, and upload the photo on a blank page (make sure there is still white space left.)
Step 5. Click on “Element” to the left and add a circle and re size it so you have room to work. Then at the top left, you can change the color of the circle. Change the color of the circle using the eyedropper tool by pulling a random color from the image you have chosen.
Step 6. Repeat Step 5 until you have three to five distinguishable colored circles next to your photo. Also, a general rule of thumb, adding a very dark shade and a very light shade (if you do not already have one). For me, this was simply black and white.
And voila! Just like that, you have a color palette that is special to you. Remember you may not get it right the first time around, and want to play with multiple images till you find something you are satisfied with.
One of the main reasons I like this process is because Canva gives you HEX color codes to work with. This means your colors can be uploaded to WordPress or other sites for style consistency. And if you need an RGB, CMYK, HSV, or HSL color codes you can google the HEX version and it will translate it for you. You can see my color scheme below!
I think this can be a great exercise for people to explore color schemes in an extremely engaging way. By no means did I create the eyedropper tool, but I think it can be fun for someone like me who does not have all of the design knowledge in the world. It also allows you to stay consistent with the colors across all your social platforms and websites.
If you have any questions or concerns make sure to engage with this post by leaving a comment below! And if you enjoyed today’s content, or tried out the technique yourself, share it on your social platforms! Thanks so much, lil MARTIANS! Catch ya next time!
