Representing the psychology behind colors in a handmade accordion book

Assignment

The assignment was to design and handcraft both an accordion-style booklet and a box to hold it. It must have unique materials/construction, creative cover design, be entirely hand-crafted and non-digital design and construction, mixed media, typography, and the elements and principles of design. The main constraint was that this had to be all non-digital.

Know-how

No digital software skills were allowed for this project

Plan

When given the challenge of creating a mixed media accordion book I chose to do mine on the psychology of color. Featured in the booklet are the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, magenta and pink.

Approach

I first approached this project by first researching all the colors and associations with those colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and pink). I went with the generally accepted meanings of each color since meaning is interpreted differently person to person.

I had to keep in mind that there was a deadline and I had to meet specific requirements.

Research

Red is the color of passion, action, determination, dominance, loudness, and youthfulness. It is stimulating, energetic, and enhances physical needs. Common words associated with it are war, energy, danger, anger, love, strength, power, desire, and passion.

Orange is the color of enthusiasm and emotion. It is considered to give shelter in thought moments by not allowing the person to sink into grief or disappointment. Common words associated with it are emotion, optimism, energy, positivity, and excitement.

Yellow is the color of happiness and youthfulness, it grabs the persons attention with hope, positivity, upbeats, brightness, and joy. Common words associated with it are sun, smiley faces, sunflowers, happiness, caution, bright, and spontaneity.

Green is the color of growth, balance, renewal, life, and harmony. It is relaxing but also energizing. It represents hope for a better future, is considered beneficial to the mind and body, and is said to produce a calming effect. Common words associated with it are envy, jealousy, nature, money, greed, renewal, balance, and materialism.

Blue is the color of strength and steadfast or light and friendly. It communicates significance, importance, and confidence. It is often associated with intelligence, stability, unity, and freedom. It has meanings of depth, trust, loyalty, sincerity, wisdom, confidence, stability, faith, heaven, and intelligence. It is said to invoke rest and can cause the body to produce chemicals that are calming and exude feelings of tranquility. Common words associated with the color are peace, cold, sadness, stability, loyalty, confidence, sky, water, unity, and intelligence.

Purple is the color of imagination, spirituality, and inspires high ideals. It can be creative and individual or immature and impractical. It allows us to connect with our deeper thoughts. Common words associated with the color are wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, magic, and luxury.

Magenta is the color of universal harmony and emotional balance, it contains the passion, power, and energy of red but is restrained by the introspection and quiet energy of violet. Common words associated with it are harmony, kindness, change, character, cheery, and rational.

Pink is the color of universal love of oneself and of others. It represents friendship, affection, harmony, inner peace, compassion, nurturing, and approachability. Common words associated with it are love, romance, charm, passion, caring, tenderness, and awareness.

Results

The Psychology of Color accordion book was made.