Color plays a major role in the User Interface and user experience of a product. Thirty-eight percent of users quit the brand if it is unattractive. In addition, it communicates different feels to different people.
For example, men love some colors and don’t find some attractive, and so do women. Choosing the color scheme can, therefore, make or break a product.
What should you consider?
There are three main components to a shade scheme that the designer has to consider. There are no universal rules to colors schemes to apply. However, there are some unwritten ones that, if violated, can spell disaster for the product. Here are few guidelines on deciding product design vs. UX design;
The identity; your choice should always reflect the identity and personality of the brand in question. Each business has a different color appeal that makes them unique and different from others, even in the same industry. The designer must respect and uphold such. However, in cases where the brand is new, you should thoroughly research the brands and competition to avoid confusion. It is worth noting that infringement can lead to costly lawsuits.
User experience; it should be geared toward achieving the best user experience. The user should not strain their eyes when using the brands, and neither should they dislike the product based on the color scheme.
In addition to the user experience above, the choice should influence product usage or purchase. The whole essence of having the product is to be accepted and used to meet a need or solve an issue.
Helpful Tips
Here are a few tips that can help you:
Audience analysis; the need for background research on the target audience cannot be over-emphasized. Some colors are considered feminine, and others masculine. Therefore, as the designer of the product, know your target audience and what works for them. Similarly, adults and kids also have different theme appeals and should be factored in the design.
The industry; where is the product going to be used? Colors communicate different feels. For instance, red is considered an appetite stimulator. It, therefore, works best in food and beverage industries- KFC, Coca-Cola, etc. On the other hand, blue has a calming and assuring feeling of trust and acceptance and is mostly used in online platforms; Facebook, Twitter, etc. Therefore, design has to reflect the industry.
The challenge of color does not end with the two factors above. Other factors like contrast, harmony, and tone have to be factored in when it comes to the product itself.
The 60:30:10 rule; Colors should be distributed in the given ratio to make it easy for the eye to navigate. The ratio also gives a balance to the user interface. Consider using neutral colors in the background, such as white or gray, and adding the other colors for overlay. The scheme needs to be an interplay between warm and cool colors that complement each other.
The second aspect is to stick to three primary colors as they work in harmony or create chaos if not used properly. After choosing the basic colors, the designer can manipulate contrast, hue, and tone to ensure harmony.
Conclusion
The design should apply colors proportionately for the ultimate user interface and experience, factoring in text vs. color so that none is overdone. In addition, the best color scheme should meet the three basic factors; the user desire, the business personality, identity, and influence the purchase of the product. For expert designing services, you could consult UI UX development company Fireart Studio.
