Apr 19 2013
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts
Experimentation is a highly rewarding part of a creative process. When you execute an idea and give yourself enough room, you can come up with inspired solutions. Ask yourself: what can you design if you had no superficial rules or trends to follow; only strong design foundations? In this article, I’ll share my methodologies on how I experiment with these two important aspects of design.
Experimenting With Colors
The process of getting inspiration can be as simple as finding things that you like. Take colors for example. What I usually do is start browsing designs and photos based on colors. Colors determine your mood, and sometimes you may be fixated on a palette. That’s because it’s your current focus and it is what inspires you right now. If there’s anything that Flat design has taught us, it’s that colors are important.
- Dribbble has a nice color browsing tool to find similar designs of the same colors.
Although finding inspiring materials is a significant step, the hardest part is how you interpret that inspiration. In my previous article, I discussed how you should not copy, but steal. The more distance you have between the source and the finished product, the more room you have to improve it. If you start with colors, you will have a lot to play with.
In my Music Player experimentation, I was motivated to do my own interpretation of Rovane Durso’s concept. For the colors, I found Andrew Bayer’s new album cover inspiring, so I blurred it and created a color palette based on that. Pick the most distinct colors.
For the background, I used the eyedropper tool and picked the darker shades. There are a lot of trials and errors involved in just picking the right colors. Mixing colors together can create interesting results. Download this .sketch file to see how you I played with it.
For the user interface’s container, I applied the lighter shades to bring contrast from the background. As for the buttons, I used the background’s colors. There are a few rules to colors that I try to follow:
1- Gradients should be subtle.
2- Avoid using gray. Instead, use dark shades of a color.
3- Use the opacity setting on those colors to create middle tones.
4- Apply black and white opaque at light opacity to get other middle tones.
If you do this step right, you will get a lot of interesting color mixes. The middle tones are mostly used for outlines and shadows but can sometimes be useful for other elements.
If you feel adventurous, go directly to the Color picker tool and drag the circle. You should also get familiar with the HSBA (Hue, Saturation, Brightness and Alpha) values so that you can play with those numbers. Understanding the science of colors will help you become more precise.
Experimenting With Concepts
Everything we design is inspired by reality – it is where we live in and where we solve problems for. “Indifference towards people and the reality in which they live is actually the one and only cardinal sin in design” – Dieter Rams.
The purpose of experimenting with concepts is become good at adapting and translating. By reinventing old designs into something new, made for the problems of today, you get the wisdom of the old infused with the experience you have today. In that sense, design is never truly timeless and never truly original, but that’s where you come in. You get to interpret the reality you live in and design for that reality.
If you are bound to steal something, you might as well steal from the wisest and greatest. For this experimentation, I chose Dieter Rams’s clock and radio design. But I didn’t include the radio part. Instead, I added digital aspects to it such as the time, weather and settings.
The Fear Of Mistakes
“Nothing will stop you being creative so effectively as the fear of making a mistake.” – John Cleese. You should watch his video about 5 factors to make your life more creative.
It takes courage to design something out of your comfort zone. It’s scary. But give yourself enough time and allow yourself to make mistakes, and you will get over your fear.
There is a lot of negativity everywhere. Don’t let others tell you what to do. Do what you love. Make mistakes. The person you will become will never be without the mistakes you are making now.
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/vYbYEKgDOw
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/G5obtAjGFI
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts: http://t.co/KergjsNEFF
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts – http://t.co/6wWQT6dv46 #design
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/7FDPSlGi8C
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/yIwMLyekuU
Could you publish an .ai file or something similar?
Sorry, it’s a fairly complex process to recreate everything in Illustrator. Why not try out Sketch? :)
It’s Mac only for starters. And why spend 50$ if I already have Illustrator?
Sketch is awesome. Next upgrade cycle, when adobe is asking for another $500+, try sketch out. It also has a free try, if you want to try it now. (http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/)
@domw_ http://t.co/EvskDslTCg
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/yu48O3FMez
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/412kFCXEht
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/C4dOgB9PKj
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/dNnlwrlMTs
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts. http://t.co/LXcLM8VyP7
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/fuQywSopqk
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/cext1na29K
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/WuC1ONsjuJ
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/o2YKmnL6Uz
I like your reply on Illustrator, and I completely agree that Illustrator is complex to use, and why should we (the users) suffer for Adobe’s inefficiency to create a intuitive, easy and effective user interface.
Also I really liked your article.
Thanks for such tidbits.
Shahnawaz
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/qzR6EQAbr8
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/sigX2SQ8JY
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/NBUs5WeidX
Experimenting with Colors and Concepts. #design http://t.co/SdvUwBAWzI
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/AKPjEC6Rhu
Fabulous article. Thanks for putting it together! Heads up: the Dribbble.com link is broken. :)
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/jDFHXudGAC
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/Ecc4UPmMKX
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/58mZusnSMl
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/762wyfIpl3
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/UvPc2DfAjZ
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/N9gf4ewerv
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts, http://t.co/rK69aUArzn
对颜色的运用很值得借鉴 http://t.co/tO87o0CCNQ
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/SRCvfh4Emy
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/Qy8zdlWDeW
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Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/auDzN5NE4P
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Santo com’è?? Non l’ho visto mai giocare ma ho sentito grandi coseanch’ioè la prima volta che l’ho visto giocare: ha una gestione degli spazi eccezionale: una gran bella certezza per….Allegri.Adesso mi spiego i complimenti dell’antipaticissimo Allegri a Vargas: è uno che i giovani li “vede”
I really enjoyed this exhibit and can’t wait to see it again. This is some really cool, cutting edge modern art. Not your grandfather’s Picasso, but something much different. Really awesome.
Experimenting with colour for design improvement http://t.co/Qm9OSxQXzl
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/LHSwsbY3G9
Article: How to Contact Google – http://t.co/ZufMtPrXBz
Article: Experimenting With Colors And Concepts – http://t.co/XDGRS80rIF
Meng, thanks for publishing so many articles about Sketch. I’ve just started using it, and I’m amazing at how quickly I can design without getting distracted by things like brushes, patterns and complex tools.
I also read your article on “Don’t Copy, Steal”. You are totally right that many designers today are just endlessly coping each other without understanding the principles behind what makes the design “beautiful” or “usable” or “timeless”. You need to study something so much, that you understand the principles behind what makes it such a great design.
Keep up the great work!
Great post by @MengTo http://t.co/azOoPChiri
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/0goU7Mk0Wx #webdesign #design #colortheory
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts — http://t.co/BGunfoFVtW
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/xblxJD5Uat
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/Ri5Sv1RsYp
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/1ImwmXtNPa
Really cool! @MengTo “Experimenting With Colors And Concepts” http://t.co/PhIC2oy2tk
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/PfD6pJJMtX
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/kF8IMjZUHh
Just what i needed to hear. :)
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/PxoYOBgmWB
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/yQBVIS6fgH
Lovely: Being #creative and #experimenting is all about making mistakes, but don’t be scared! http://t.co/ib6LQhbSKX
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts -> http://t.co/liz26Ch39A
nice post on Color and Conceptual thinking for Designers http://t.co/sXoMcZ0cxz great design blog all around.
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/tacEhIUQl9
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/n6Pr3BIJxB
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/gjxAwXgHLS
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/Let3ClxBf5 • #wdfr
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts | Meng To – UI/UX Designer http://t.co/da1KVjPbbD
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/PhrLv8TyRZ <-some nice illustrations, beyond #eyecandy
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/lGBcI6bOlz via @SidebarIO
All right. I’ll try sketch today. @MengTo has convenced me. It’s the fear of learning a new tool I need to overcome. http://t.co/E8jWt2w6d3
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts | Meng To|UI/UX Designer http://t.co/AMienlNc3H
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/scZvanHnPl
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/5F1n2x8MKm
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/LSq5zUGb2H
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/szzFi4GycH
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/svmW03o7WG
“Experimenting With Colors And Concepts” http://t.co/xgQrDh9I5Q
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/Bgfh1WuYFS
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/vBIVdoiXSU
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts
http://t.co/Ukw9YMWl7y
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts | Meng To – UI/UX Designer
http://t.co/tIQ7Qyspdm
A great article on design experimentation with colors and concepts for innovation: http://t.co/mUkLZaMiGZ by @MengTo
Kleurtjes en experimenteren! Tof @MengTo: http://t.co/5z5HAGLTPt
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/jRbO9pPtX4
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/0gPDWGeSAZ
http://t.co/U7VdPBM9qw
@albinbousquet http://t.co/RW8KnsdZNB
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/TnUWHHCEha
A nice article on experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/jBbrNmNRPy
A great #article on #design experimentation with #colors and concepts for #innovation: http://t.co/7gj9nwNbZc by @MengTo
RT @smashingmag
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/bvmIDtsd31
Experimenting with colors and concepts #ui #ux #design #inspiration http://t.co/jPzp38b7bF
A great article on design experimentation with colors and concepts for innovation: http://t.co/elnjvBoVlo by… http://t.co/qgQb0ECXcQ
[…] Great article. (We don’t have Sketch so we can’t open the files. You can install the free trial on […]
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/C0SbiabGy9
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/zCgjkwoVyb
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts | Meng To|UI/UX Designer http://t.co/fAK3BlWJdq
A great article on design experimentation with colors and concepts for innovation: http://t.co/CTHwXQkg3f by MengTo
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts http://t.co/OaRGAvhoan
Experimenting With Colors And Concepts by @MengTo: http://t.co/cONu5YMoES
“If there’s anything that Flat design has taught us, it’s that colors are important.” – @MengTo
http://t.co/aPKTZJ5Fx3
#GreatRead
Press inquiry: I’d like to publish a guest blog post by you alongside 100 tech companies & startups in June. Pls contact me at beth@citizentekk.com
Hi Meng,
Your blog and designs are blowing me away. I’ve currently got a bunch of your .sketch files open to study your attention to detail.
Do you have any other recommendations for how to learn this level of user interface design or is studying the works of others one of the best ways?
Thanks!
David
Skeuomorphism… Phew!
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who was doing a little
research on this. And he actually bought me dinner simply because I
stumbled upon it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this….
Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time
to talk about this issue here on your blog.
Excellent posts. today i’m able to make smarter wire frame. Thank you for giving this excellent posting.
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Thank you for the post. I will certainly return.
オメガによれば、オメガスピードマスタームーンウォッチのこのバージョンのために美的なインスピレーションの時計を着用shirra宇宙飛行士ワリーによって1962年にnasaシグマ7ミッションは彼が地球を軌道に乗った。
この空間における最初の腕時計でない間(ロシアの時計があった)、1962年の任務は、オメガの空間であった最初の時をマークした。
このように、「第1のオメガスピードマスターにおける空間」のコレクションが生まれました。
それは面白い、オメガからの情報によると、shirra購入オメガスピードマスターは、彼自身の任務のために、これはnasaとの公式関係も以前にありました。
Thanks!
An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a colleague who was doing a little
research on this. And he actually bought me dinner simply because I
stumbled upon it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this….
Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time
to talk about this issue here on your blog.