the Art of Zen

Why oh why, would someone want to write another color theory article? I mean, there are so many out there already. Well we can talk theory all day long, but the truth is that the ability of color to influence the way we live our lives, or make the decisions we do, go back to the early Chinese Jin Dynasty. Color is a major factor in the art of Feng Shui and can play just as important a role in the design of your web site and marketing materials.

Colors are divided between the two sides of the Yin Yang symbol. The one side (Yin) brings about peace, relaxation and healing. The other side (Yang) brings about excitement, motivation and energy. These colors can influence us over a long period of time when used in our homes and office spaces. But they can also have an influence on your visitors even in the short period of time they spend on your site. The idea of using color on the principals of Yin Yang is to create balance; a mixture of both to create the mood and call-to-action. Too much of one or the other can result in people being bored of your web site or irritated by the strong colors and leaving before you have the chance to make the impression you are trying to achieve.

The following colors are separated by Yin and Yang and when combined properly, can create an exceptional experience for your visitors; and hopefully more profit for you.

Colors in the area of Yin:

Blue – Blue is the color of relaxation, calm and healing. To some it is the color of love. Blue creates a feeling of peace and trust. It is the color of the sea and sky, so it tends to represent adventure and exploration. Navy (blue) is the Feng Shui color of intelligence and wisdom.

Purple – Purple rests at the spiritual end of the color spectrum. It boosts spiritual awareness and is excellent for physical and mental healing. It is also the color of royalty, creating a sense of greatness.

Pink – Pink represents spiritual completeness and a sense of contentment. Pink lends itself as a symbol of self-respect and self-awareness; but be careful as some people may find too much pink mentally draining.

Green – Green is refreshing, nurturing, and balanced. It is the Feng Shui color of harmony and balance. Like blue, green can also represent healing and health. The color is good for growth and expansion. On the negative side, green is a symbol of selfishness, jealousy, and laziness. Too much green can be depressing and debilitating.

Black – Symbolizing money and income, black is great for expressing elegance and wealth, especially when combined with silver. Black is the Feng Shui color of emotional protection and power.

Color in the area of Yang:

White – White blends all the colors of the rainbow, and represents harmony and purity. White is a revealer of truth and can lead toward higher spiritual and divine knowledge. White is also known as the color of purity and is very popular in the web 2.0 design style.

Yellow – Associated with good luck, yellow can stimulate joy, wisdom, insight, and creativity; and is a color that encourages flexibility and adaptability. It can lift your mood, inspire optimism, and improve ones sense of well-being. Considered as auspicious as red, yellow represents warmth and motion. In excess, yellow can over stimulate and irritate, and is also associated with negative sentiments such as cowardice and prejudice.

Orange – A happy, social color that creates feelings of optimism, confidence, and enthusiasm, orange will stimulate creativity and ambition. However, in some people orange can produce nervousness and restless behavior.

Brown – Brown is the earth color, representing fertility and is associated with the environment. Brown creates the sense being grounded, hard working, balanced and secure.

Red – Red stimulates the senses and is associated with strength, joy, motivation, love and good fortune. IN the right dose, red can attract recognition, confidence and respect. Red is also the color of luck, money, joy, and protection. Red is one color that must be used sparingly as it can instill anger and a sense of concern if used too much.