Complementary Colors: A surefire design trick
If you start paying attention to designs around you, you’ll notice certain combinations of what are called complementary colors.
These classic color combinations are:
Red + green
Blue + orange
Purple + Yellow
You’ll find them at opposite ends of the color wheel, which we looked at last week. And you’ll notice this combination uses one warm color and one cool color. The result: a design that pops due to each color having a brightening effect on the other.
Using these combinations is a quick way to develop an eye-pleasing color scheme, as you can see in the above logos. But don’t be afraid to explore other combinations.
There's a big trend right now to use unique color pairings. As an example, here are pieces from my portfolio. I used many unusual color combinations, such as: turquoise and red; purple and green; purple and blue; shades of brown; red and gold; hot pink and white; and browns and blues.
When it comes to design, knowledge plus experimentation equals great design. Don’t be afraid to experiment, and I encourage you to always keep learning.
About Jon Hébert
I’m a former newspaper editor, radio DJ, art director, and rock n’ roll front man who ventured into graphic design as a hobby. After receiving my art and design degree from LSU, I worked at several marketing firms before opening Jon Hébert Creative in 2003. I’ve since helped hundreds of clients with their graphic design, digital strategy, storytelling, and more. I’m also a musician and writer.
