Universal Principles of Color: 100 Key Concepts for Understanding, Analyzing, and Working with Color

by Stephen Westland, Maggie Maggio

A comprehensive, cross-disciplinary overview of color, Universal Principles of Color presents 100 core concepts and guidelines that are critical to a successful use of color. Richly illustrated and easy to navigate, it pairs clear explanations of every topic with visual examples of it applied in theory and in practice. The book is organized alphabetically so that principles can be easily and quickly referenced. For those interested in addressing a specific color challenge or application problem, the principles are also indexed by pathways based on nine topics of color study ranging from science, art and design, and industry. " Each principle is presented in a two-page The left-hand page contains a succinct definition, a full description of the principle, and examples of and guidelines for its use. Side notes, which appear to the right of the text, provide elaborations and references. The right-hand page contains visual examples and related graphics to support a deeper understanding of the principle.   Whether in a branding campaign or a healthcare facility, a product’s packaging or a software user interface, the color we see is the culmination of many concepts and practices brought together from a variety of disciplines to increase appeal, influence perception, and enhance usability.   By considering these concepts and examples, you can learn to make more informed and ultimately better color decisions. This landmark reference is the standard for designers, engineers, architects, and students who seek to broaden and improve their understanding of and expertise in color. The titles in the Rockport Universal series offer comprehensive and authoritative information and edifying and inspiring visual examples on multidisciplinary subjects for designers, architects, engineers, students, and anyone who is interested in expanding and enriching their design knowledge.

Genres: Design, Art

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2023

Reviews

[Flora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very interesting and sometimes even fascinating concepts about color. Including some I have never heard or read about. I love this format where each concept occupies one spread, with the concept discussed on one side and a visual example or use of that color on the other. I have seen a similar book on the universal principles of design and loved that one too.

Color affects every aspect of our lives whether we realise it or not. Artists and designers will find this book very helpful , as I have (as an artist.) But actually anyone who loves color will find this book a page-turner. Some of the concepts are harder to grasp and I found myself thinking I must go read up on that elsewhere as well.

I hope to get a hardcopy edition of this title. It is worth looking through multiple times.

[J Kromrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Universal Principles of Color" is a vibrant tapestry of color knowledge, meticulously woven by authors Stephen Westland and Maggie Maggio.

This book is a kaleidoscope of practical wisdom that will forever alter the way you perceive and wield color.

Key Concepts

Chiaroscuro: The interplay of light and shadow, like a chiaroscuro painting, breathes life into color. Westland and Maggio delve into the nuances, revealing how contrast shapes our visual experience.

Simultaneous Contrast: Prepare to question your assumptions! This principle explores how colors influence one another when juxtaposed. It's like a lively conversation between hues at a vibrant cocktail party.

Color Harmony: Imagine a symphony where each instrument plays in perfect harmony. This book dissects color harmonies—complementary, analogous, and triadic—revealing their emotional impact and design applications.

Psychology of Color: Why does red evoke passion, while blue soothes? Westland and Maggio decode the psychology behind color associations, empowering designers to evoke specific emotions.

Color in Branding: From Coca-Cola's iconic red to Google's playful primary palette, this book unveils the secrets of successful branding through color choices.

Color in Healthcare: Ever wondered why hospitals favor calming blues and greens? Dive into the healing power of color and its impact on patient well-being.

Color in User Interfaces: Whether it's a sleek app or a website, color influences user experience. Learn how to create intuitive interfaces that guide users seamlessly.

Format and Layout

The book's layout mirrors its content—organized alphabetically for quick reference. Each concept spans two pages: the left side provides a succinct definition, while the right side showcases visual examples. It's like flipping through a gallery of color brilliance.

Why Read It?

"Universal Principles of Color" isn't just for designers; it's a prism through which anyone can explore the magic of color. Whether you're an artist, marketer, or curious soul, this book will ignite your creativity and deepen your understanding of the world's most captivating phenomenon.

Westland and Maggio have crafted a masterpiece—a chromatic compass guiding us through the spectrum of color. So grab your brush, adjust your monitor, and let this book infuse your world with hues that sing, whisper, and dance. 🌈✨

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Universal Principles of Color is a well written and accessible theory guide by Maggie Maggio and Stephen Westland. Released 21st Nov 2023 by Quarto on their Rockport imprint, it's 216 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.

This is a very useful and information dense textbook treatment of concepts of color: perception, light, object reflectivity, shape, nuance, and much (much) more. Each idea is presented on a 2 page facing spread with text explanation on the left side and facing illustrations/photos on the right. The text is easy to understand and there are surprisingly complex concepts presented in bite-sized pieces.

Five stars. This would make a superlative choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, artist's studio collections, as well as for more formal classroom instruction in design, art, and allied subjects.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Sinan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think for me this book was one of the rare books in my life which, after reading it, gave me an epoch of enlightenment on that subject.

I work as a software and product designer. Considering that interfaces are one of the most important factors in the success of the software, this book made me realise these points on the issues that I had difficulty and could not reach the answers clearly. Whether it is the effects of colours on psychology, whether it is emphasis, whether it is appropriate simplification and harmony, it made me realise all of them.

At the moment, I have found answers to all the questions I had before in terms of interface design and visualisation.
Although the language of the book is a little academic, a little scientific, a little art history, I realised after completing the book that these are completely necessary to understand the subject.

In addition, when you follow the categorical index of the book, you provide a unity in your mind by following the related topics and it makes it easier for you to learn.

After completing the book, you will notice a change in your colour and visual literacy, looking at colours from a different world.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the book, especially the authors.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is basically a textbook and visual dictionary on the science and industry of color. Each of the 100 concepts is given a double page spread with a short definition, a longer explanation, and large and small photographs to illustrate the concept. It’s a great reference for those who work with color, though not exactly a book you would read for pleasure. It’s very thorough and well done for what it is, though.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.

[로라 · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent primer on all things color! One hundred concepts of color are made easily-digestible by the book's pithy explanations and photo examples. This reader appreciated how each color concept was accompanied by a "See Also" box containing additional, related conceptual terms to refer to.

My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing me an advance readers copy.

[De · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dense and slightly academic book on color and color theory. It took me a few tries to make it through, but I understand color so much better now! As an artist and a touch>color synesthete, I appreciate all the new information I learned.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Agnes Preszler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every art instruction book contains at least some pages about color. If you need more, actualy if you want to examine color from every aspect, you might be interested in this volume. Every double page treats one property or concept so it might be used as a reference book. Only for serious colorists, not for beginners.

[Christina Valastro · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Color is the place where our brain and the universe meet."

This book is very interesting and organized very well. I was able to understand the purpose of the book and grasp the concepts easily. Great read!

[Tracy]

There were some interesting things I gleaned from this, and good examples they showcased, but structuring it as 100 random concepts without any other organization was very confusing. I think it would have been more useful as a learning aid to group like concepts and build up a foundation first.

[Natassja Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book for any art enthusiast. This is a must have resource for artists and anyone interested in colour theory.