Color in UX/UI: More Than Just Aesthetics
People still think UI design is mostly about “making it look nice.” I’ve heard it myself more than once at work — compliments like “your designs are so pretty.” The truth? I just know how to use color well.
Color in UX isn't decoration. It's function. It's emotion. It's direction. Knowing how to use color is a skill, not a coincidence.
A Strategic Approach to Color: Theory Meets Practice
I completed three advanced courses that shaped how I use color in my design work:
- Color Theory Applied to Online Projects – learning how to organize and apply color principles in digital design.
- Building Awesome Color Schemes for Your UI Design Projects – practical exercises for creating palettes that are both beautiful and functional.
- The Psychology of Color in Game Design & Development – how color influences user emotions, perception, and decision-making.
Each of these courses helped me understand color as a strategic tool, especially in designing user experiences.
Color Psychology: The User Sees, Feels, and Decides
Color can inform, calm, warn, or guide. But it can also mislead, overwhelm, or distract.
- Blue builds trust (that’s why so many banks use it).
- Red grabs attention and energizes (perfect for CTAs, but use sparingly).
- Green signals approval, safety, or “eco” — depending on context.
That’s just the surface. In real-world use, cultural background, contrast, brightness, and accessibility (especially for color-blind users) are critical.
It’s also essential to remember that color psychology is not universal. In Western cultures, white symbolizes purity and weddings. But in many Asian countries, white is the color of mourning. In Poland, black dominates funerals, while in China, it’s red that rules weddings, symbolizing joy and prosperity.
In most of my projects, I apply moderately international standards — especially in global products — but cultural awareness can make or break the user’s first impression.
Practical Color Principles for Better UI
- Design with contrast – not just for looks, but for legibility and accessibility.
- Be consistent – color should support the UI structure, not confuse it.
- Test across devices and night modes – brightness and tone can shift dramatically.
- Use color as an accent, not a crutch – text should stand on its own, color is its ally.
- Always consider color blindness and visual impairments – never rely solely on color to convey information.
UI Supports UX — Not the Other Way Around
User experience is primarily shaped by color. But not in the superficial, decorative sense. Color is a tool — one that builds clarity, hierarchy, and interaction.
UI isn't a gallery piece. Its role isn't to impress but to support action. It plays lead only when UX calls for it — not sooner.
Designing an interface is not about showing off graphic skills. It’s about building a structure for experience — and color is the concrete, the brick, and the light that holds it all together.
Final Thought: Color Is a Function, Not an Ornament
I design like I write: with intent. Color isn’t something I add at the end. It’s a decision. A strategic one. The fact that it looks good? That’s a bonus.
If you want help reviewing the color use in your interface, brand, or portfolio — reach out. Sometimes all it takes is one pigment shift to move a design from “nice-looking” to working beautifully.
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