COLOR THEORY
CHRISTAN MCCONNELL
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PRECEDENT STUDY FILM ANALYSIS COLOR + BALANCE COLOR + HEALTHCARE COLOR + RHYTHM RETAIL ANALYSIS COLOR + SCALE COLOR + MY CAMERA COMMERCIAL DESIGN ANALYSIS RENDERING COLOR + CULTURE
CHRISTAN MCCONNELL
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE GRAD 1
M1 INTRODUCTION
I am 23 years old, born and raised in south Florida. My background is a mix of Jamaican and Irish; my mother was born in Jamaica and moved to the states to pursue an education at the University of Miami, which is when she met my father who is from New York. They met on a blind date! I received an AA degree in West Palm Beach and then moved to Miami to attend Florida International University to begin pursuing my dream of becoming an Interior Designer. Since the age of twelve, I knew I wanted to be an Interior Designer. I used to spend my weekends visitng any open houses that I could find. A few random facts about me, I was a gymnast for ten years and it was truly my passion but it did not leave me enough time for my studies so I had to quit. I have two Shih Tzus, Sophie and Chalky , the most adorable things on the planet. Music is something that gets me through every day life and I would not know how to survive if headphones did not exist.
Christan McConnell Professor Zickler Artist House Plan 1 4 = 1.0'
Christan McConnell Professor Zickler Artist House Perspective
BARRAGAN HOUSE & STUDIO by LUIS BARRAGAN
M2 PRECEDENT
ARCHITECT LUIS BARRAGAN Architect and Engineer Born in Guadalajara, Mexico in 1902 Died in Mexico City in 1988 Majored in engineering and then tought himself the skills of architecture Had his own practice based in Guadalajara from 19271936 and then moved it to Mexico City where he remained Won a Pitzker Prize in 1980
CONCEPT Bringing color to the forefront of architecture The mystery and power of color are used to elevate the human experience Monumental walls enclose the buildings’s outer form and careful placement of color opens up the inside and everything within Serenity is achieved within the home without the use of a dull color palette. White walls are offset by bright tones The colors used are inspired by how the Mexican culture experiences the world
FACADE
The facade blends in with the surrounding neighborhood and gives no hints to its bright interior walls
FOYER Placement of color is used to create pictorial depth Uses a complimentary color scheme of tints One single artificial light shines from yellow-tinted glass onto whitewashed walls which gives the small room an all over yellow color The wood textured wall adds a softness to the room and is the only source of color when the door is closed
LIVING ROOM
The most subtle area of the home The brown of the wood is what provides the most saturated color Uses a neutral and monochromatic color scheme with its main focus being on what is happening outside The large window provides natural light and a visible relationship between this part of the home and its backyard
STUDIO
The main light source is the natural light that the window provides White is used to create contract all throughout the home but especially in this area Ceiling beams are painted a pale yellow and the wood floors and furniture provide an orange color that warms up the space
TERRACE Shows another use of compimentary color Barragan is known for his use of large flat planes of bright color which is displayed plainly in this area The green vegetation is used to add contast in this area
Barragan was known for his use of color, light, shadow, and texture. He was an “architect of color”and his time spent in Europe, where he met Le Corbusier, had great influence on his designs. He created “emotional architecture” that could encourage meditation and serenity without taking away bright colors. Barragan was able to discover a poetry within architecture by straying away from conventional techniques and creating a unique style that distinguishes who he is as a person and architect.
CONCLUSION
REFERENCES http://www.pritzkerprize.com/1980/bio https://www.britannica.com/biography/Luis-Barragan http://www.archdaily.com/102599/ad-classics-casa-barragan-luis-barragan https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/travel/finding-mexico-city-and-luis-barragan-again.html http://blog.colourstudio.com/2013/03/luis-barragan-architect-of-color.html
HER
M3 Film Analysis
A movie set in the near future, Her, directed by Spike Jonze, is a film about a lonely man named Theodore who specializes in writing beautiful handwritten letters for his company. He is also going through a divorce from his wife Catherine. In his down time, he spends alot of time reminiscing of the good moments of his life with Catherine and likes to play videogames. His best friend is his neighbor Amy, who is married to Charles. One day, Theodore sees an advertisement for a new operating system called OS-1 that is announced as the first artificially intelligent operating system and he decides to buy it. After the installation, he has a conversation with a seductive female voice whos name is Samantha. Soon Samantha develops her feelings and they fall in love with each other. An insecure Theodore feels confused about loving a computer system while Samantha continunes to grow-up and evolve. The color palette consists of varied hues of red, yellow, blue, green, and neutrals.
RED/PINK: ACCEPTANCE and LOVE Theodore wears red during the majority of the film. In the beginning, I think he is accepting of himself and his lifestyle. While it might not be his ideal situation, he has come to terms with it. This increases as he accepts his relationship with Samantha and falls more and more in love with her. Amy also pretty much wears all red after her divorce because she has come to terms with her situation, and is also the most accepting about people having relationships with their OS, including herself. BLUE: SADNESS and/or DISCOMFORT Blue, throughout the movie, is most present at times when Theodore is at his lowest or most uncomfortable point. The video game that he plays is a very saturated form of blue and he plays the game to distract himself from the sadness in his life. It also gives him someone to talk to when his lonely. The majority of of the scenes where Theodore is walking alone are blue as well.
NEUTRALS: UNDERSTANDING and COMFORT I think the neutral browns and beiges throughout the film represent a type of general acceptance and comfort during important scenes and when it is used on main characters. I noticed it when Theodore first tells his friends that Samantha is an OS. His friends immediately understand his choice to date an OS. Every time Theodore is in a generally decent head space, the scenes become more calm.
M4 COLOR + BALANCE
Color and balance are used to make sense of our surrounding world. Balance is achieved by creating some sense of order and purpose within a setting. Balance is the relationshp between different hues. There is symmetry and radial balance. Balance of color is showing how colors complement each other, how low or high colors are contrasted, and the size of a colored area.
M5 COLOR + HEALTHCARE Modern research suggests that, yes, color does have a profound impact on how we feel and our biological functions. Our moods can affect our health and colors have a direct impact on our moods and how we feel about things. Blue, for example, is a calming, soothing color, and has been shown to lowerblood pressure and heart rate. A common mistake is using the wrong colors, such as bright colors in areas where they shouldn’t be used; for instance, in patient rooms, an accent wall somebody is going to be facing that’s too bold or too bright. Healthcare facilities should be a place that brings a sense of peace, not a place that brings on feelings of fear.
M6 COLOR + RHYTHM
Rhythm is movement. It is a natural trait of nature that can be used in interior spaces and can be even further enhanced by the use of color. Alternating hues, progressive values, and contrasts of saturation can all be used to create a rhythm within a space. Using rhythm through color is a way of guiding someone through a space and assists with wayfinding. There are mutiple types of rhythm associated with color. There is repetition, alternation, progression, continuation, and radiation. Rhythm of color can also create a visual texture even if there is none. The ultimate goal is to create a visual movement that connects all the seperate parts of the whole.
M7 Retail Analysis
CONTENTS HUE VALUE TEXTURE FOCAL POINT DESIGN FEATURES
HUE
The best example of contrast of hue that can be found at this Fendi store, located in the Miami Design District, is the storefront. Although blue and green are not exactly opposite on the color wheel, they are both used here at a fairly high intensity so the store immediately catches the eye. The bright orange adds an intensity to the store. The contrast of these three colors create a strikinig effect. The store is not subtle in any way and this standout method is used to draw people in.
VALUE
Value is shown in subtle ways throughout the interior of the store. The actual merchandise shows contrast of value along with the materials and colors used. In the example below, the bags being sold show a light versus dark contrast between themselves and the white backdrop. If white bags were placed against the white backdrop, it would not create the same dynamic effect. The use of brick against the white also shows value and draws your eye to the columns and shelves which are holding the merchandise.
TEXTURE
Texture is used all throughout the store to add depth and dimensions. It keeps the store moving and creates an energy within the store. In the example above, the contrast of the bright blue staircase against the textured white wall creates a dramatic feeling within the staircase. Not only is the wall in contrast with the stairs, but it is also in contrast with itself; one side of the wall is textured while the other side is not.
FOCAL POINT
The focal point of the store is this gold lightbox at the center of the store. It is the only place that this gold textured wall is used. The placement of the bags along with the use of lighting, color, and texture creates an a lmost three dimensional look; the bags seem to be popping out at you. This focal point is able to be dramatic in a subtle and sohisticated way and it immediately tells the customer that this is a store where luxury itmes are sold.
DESIGN FEATURES
My favorite design feature of the store was this orange path. The highly saturated orange hue creates a beautiful natural lighting experience when walking passed the store. The orange can be a bit abrasive at first but once you enter the bright pathway, it creates a memorable experience. I appreciate the fearlessness of this color usage and it gives the customer something that they will not forget.
M8 COLOR + SCALE Color can be used to change our visual perception of a space’s actual size. Dark colors can make a space feel smaller and more confined, while brighter colors, or white, can make the space feel much more open and large. Used correctly, colors can make even the largest spaces feel cozy and inviting.
COLOR + MY CAMERA
A camera can be your most useful tool at capturing all aspects of color. Color is all around us but sometimes we forget to notice it because we are so used to it. Pulling out a camera and actually capturing everyday life can be a great source of inspiration.
ONE HOTEL SOUTH BEACH LOCATION: MIAMI, FL DESIGNERS: BARRY STERNLICHT, WILL MEYER, AND GRAY DAVIS
M10 COMMERCIAL DESIGN ANALYSIS
The One Hotel is my favorite hotel in South Beach for many reasons. It is unlike any other hotel in Miami because instead of using vibrant colors and loud patterns, it takes on an all-natural form. The hotel is completely eco-friendly and the focus is placed on all of the different textures and materials used throughout. It has a very neutral color scheme consisting of mostly whites and browns. This draws your attention to the green that is shown through the use of plants. Being inside this hotel makes you feel as if you are in entirely different world, it even has a distinct smell. Every detail is considered in this hotel which makes for a great experience.
The use of color and line can be found all throughout the hotel. Line is shown through the window frames, the wood paneling on the upper portions of the walls, the ceiling, the large white columns, and in the way that the lobby is layed out with its long, narrow walkway. All of these lines make the hotel seem very large.
The hotel displays color and shape with its use of large square area rugs that divide up the space into multiple sections. Everything takes on a geometric form, including the furniture, which draws attention to the all fo the organic shaped things, like the plants, the lights, and the actual people within the hotel.
Texture is the most prominent thing in the hotel. There are different textures all throughout the hotel in materials like wood, stone, and linen. This works well with the neutral color scheme because although the hotel is not vibrant in color, it takes on an interesting form through its use of so many different textures.
Pattern occurs only in natural forms in the hotel. There are no distracting patterns in the hotel but things like the wood takes on its own organic pattern. The hotel is very minimal in this way but is still uniquely interesting. Even the furniture used lacks any patterns but the simplicity of this hotel is what makes it beautiful.
M11 COLOR + RENDERING
ANALYSIS I created this palette myself using Adobe Color. The palette contains two neutral colors, an off-white, and a muted grey/brown, a black, and two more dominant colors. The dominant colors in this palette are the blue and the pink. I like that this color palette combines warm and cool colors in a harmonious way.
In the rendering, shown on the next page, I used the grey/brown tone in different areas like the floors and the curtains to help tie everything together. I used the turquoise shade as the primary color in the room, which contrasts with the black to draw the focus to the center of the room where the artwork is placed.
M12 COLOR + CULTURE JAMAICA + CUBA
JAMAICA
My mom was born in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. She moved to the US when she was 23, where she met my dad. The culture has always been a huge part of my life and I am very proud to be half Jamaican. Jamaicans are vibrant in all aspects of life and color plays a huge role in their culture. Jamaica, despite its poverty and violent history, remains one of the most vibrant, productive, and influential islands in the Carribean. Their palette consists of vibrant reds, yellows, greens, and black. Color comes alive in their dress, dance, and foods. Traditional wear includes colorful and usually handmade dresses from calico cloth. Calico is generally striped, similar to a plaid. These dresses include tiered skirts, but another important aspect is the head scarf. Color also plays a huge role in religion. The Rastafarian culture identifies with the Rastafari flag which consists of red, green, and gold; these colors have also become the signature colors of Jamaica when it comes to tourists and those outside of the country. The food here is also very colorful. For example, Ackee, the country’s national fruit, is a bright red and is used in the majority of meals. The land itself consists almost completely of greenery and is set next to the clear blue waters of the ocean.
CUBA
I chose Cuba as the other culture to explore because I have always seen pictures of these beautiful, colorful streets. I discovered that the streets I was seeing were located specifically in Havana, Cuba. Havana’s colorful architecture is a product of its historical development. Havana of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was a highly colored urban space. The nineteenth century witnessed a new addition to many of the buildings: stained-glass windows that bathed the architecture with color. The Republican Period turned Havana into the eclectic city as it is known today. The colonial buildings are beautiful, colorful and the living proof of a decadent time, there was a period in Cuba’s history where money was abundant, the pre-revolution years. Now the decay of many buildings is, on one side very nostalgic, on the other side, very sad.
CONCLUSION
“Color is a universal, nonverbal language, and we all intuitively know how to speak it.� Leslie Harrington Color comes in a such a large variety of forms and materials; it cannot be avoided because it is literally all around us. Therefore, it is essential that we, as designers, learn to use color to its fullest potential and find ways to enhance our everyday lives using it. After examining all of the ways in which color can be used, I look forward to pursuing a career that allows me to play with color in such innovative and creative ways.