Color Use and Challenges
For starters, the infographic provided on this page really helped me compare UX with UI in a whole new light, but yes, color absolutely makes a difference! The whole idea behind universal design (UD) is that there be ease of access. The product should be developed with everybody in mind. Anyone should be able to access it and use it without hitting roadblocks. The goal is to make it as easy to use as possible.
One of the things that makes it easier to use is using colors properly. There a decent percentage of people out there who have some form of colorblindness. This makes it harder or them to distinguish between different colors. We want to keep that in mind when drawing up our color palettes for projects. We want to avoid using colors that are commonly associated with colorblindness right next to each other because they can blend with each from a colorblind individual’s perspective. We also want to make sure that we also use a high contrast color palette. This makes it easier for the user to read and see information.
It sounds like the UX contributor would be more responsible for the basic framework of the product while the UI contributor would be more in charge of the graphic design portion. Therefore, the urgency of color usage is probably more pertinent to the UI professional, but is still important for the UX designer to keep in mind. The proper use of colors in the interface design also help create and embolden a company’s branding identity and make the product more appealing to the user. This creates a more memorable experience, therefore could lead to the consumer recommending it to another potential user.
Colors can have meaning or messages of their own. Especially in the aspect of product and company branding. I feel that the GPP of a robot could relate to it’s color because it may influence their general overall attitude and moods. For example: if the robot was gray or blue, maybe it would have a depressed personality? If the robot was red, maybe it could be angry or dangerous. If it was green, it could be happy and go-lucky. Maybe not. Maybe I’m wrong about that and there is a better answer to that. You be the judge!
