COLOR • COLOR • COLOR • COLOR
 
 
"If contrast gives your designs visual excitement, consistency makes your views feel at home,whether they're viewing a website, looking at at brochure, or reading an ad." -Judy Litt


After viewing and interacting with "Insist on Consistency" web page, the internet user will be able to identify and implement consistent color design with a purpose.

 

Consistency in web page design is maintained with respect to margins and page layout, fonts,navigation tools, and color. "Insist on Consistency" addresses color.


ORGANIZATION

Color signals organization and order within a web-page. A web-page that uses color as a tool for organization helps the viewer get information quickly and easily.

 

 
 

 

NAVIGATION

Color signals keywords and opportunities to navigate within a web-page. A web-page that uses color to signal keywords and opportunities to move within the site helps the viewer get information efficiently. It is important to maintain the color or color theme within the content area.

 

 

TONE

Color signals tone within a web-page. A web-page that sets a tone using color communicates a general theme to its viewers. For example, a mixture of bright colors indicate that the topic of the site is exciting, fun or uplifting. A site that uses a great deal of dark colors is likely to be more serious in content. An effective web-page establishes and maintains tone throughout.

 

 


"In a well-designed site there is a consistency of design that creates a feeling of place. That consistency should extend to the use of color thoughout the site. Use consistent colors to visually create boundries for the site-to make the site a place." -Jean Kaiser

 


RATE A SITE

Print a personal copy of this rubric and use the following scale to rate each web-page.

3 - Absolutely-great use of consistent color!

2 - Sometimes-OK use of color.

1 - Not really-inconsistent use of color.

UNT
ESPN
London Pass

Site uses color to efficiently organize information.

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Site is easy to navigate because of its consistent, logical use of color.

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Site uses color to create a consistent theme or tone.

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Site uses color consistently throughout.

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Total Rate A Site

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FEEDBACK

UNT : Although the UNT site does a good job of using color consistantly to set the tone and theme of the site, it could have done a better job of using consistant color to help a user to navigate. The site uses dark colors to create a serious straight forward theme. The colors that were used on the site do not impact the organization of the site.

Rate A Site Score: organization-2; navigation-2; tone-3; consistency-3 Total-10

ESPN :This site uses black,white and red to set a tone of direct information for the user. The site also consistantly uses color to aid the user to navigate through the massive amount of information. Espn.com could have done a better job of using color consistantly to organize the information.

Rate A Site Score: organization-2; navigation-3; tone-3; consistency-3 Total-11

London Pass :This site uses a lot of colors to set an tone of energy throughout. However,Londonpass.com lacks direction with the use of color; the colors do not help the user navigate the site nor do they help organize the site. In fact, the use of colors adds confusion to the site.

Rate A Site Score: organization-1; navigation-1; tone-2; consistency-1 Total-5


FIND A SITE:

Locate a web-page that scores "3" on all four color consistency tactics. Explain why this site scores a "12". E-mail the site and your explaination to hotbell@hotmail.com.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Color in Web Design

Shades of Success

Color Your Web

Color on the Web