Color coding has been utilized for centuries as a means to communicate information quickly and effectively. Historically, ancient civilizations employed color distinctions in various contexts, such as in maps and heraldry, to signify different territories or family lineages. In modern engineering and manufacturing, color coding serves a critical role in simplifying complex processes, minimizing errors, and enhancing safety protocols.
For example, electrical wiring often follows a color-coded system to indicate different functions, such as black for live wires and white for neutral, thus ensuring proper installation and maintenance.
Product designers and marketers can use color coding for 3 reasons:
- to convey a message
- to convey a feeling
- to easily distinguish between elements.
As such this design trick should be used as frequently as possible in any virtual or physical creation, such as GUI, road signs, toys, tools, or safety equipment to improve ergonomics.
In combination with other senses such as shape, sound, and others, color coding usage is applicable in product designs so as in any lean process to mark factory equipment, but also offices and public areas.
Color Coding To Convey a Message
In product design, color coding enhances user interaction by providing visual cues that facilitate understanding and usability.
A example can be found in consumer electronics, where buttons may be color-coded to denote their functions. For instance, a red button might indicate a power or emergency function, while a blue button could be reserved for standard operations. This immediate recognition aids users in achieving their objectives with minimal confusion, which can be particularly beneficial in high-stress situations or for individuals with varying levels of expertise.
Manufacturing environments often employ color coding on machinery and tools to promote safety and efficiency. For example, different colors may represent specific tools or equipment types, enabling workers to quickly identify and select the appropriate items for their tasks. This practice not only enhances workflow but also reduces the likelihood of accidents by clearly delineating hazardous areas or components. Industries such as automotive and aerospace have adopted these strategies extensively, utilizing color-coded labels and systems to adhere to strict regulatory standards while optimizing operational efficiency.
Color coding is one of the methods to convey important messages or instructions, in the visual family of all 6 senses.
The objective is to pass a message in the most efficient way, with colors having the advantage of being fast, not requiring too many reading capabilities (children… ) & international (no translation needed)
Standardized Color Codings
These systems utilize specific colors to convey particular messages or indicate specific conditions, enhancing clarity and reducing the likelihood of misinterpretation. For instance, in the context of safety signage, colors such as red, yellow, and green are typically used to represent warnings, caution, and safety, respectively. This uniformity allows individuals to quickly and accurately comprehend the intended message, thereby improving response times in critical situations.
The implementation of standardized color codes also streamlines the manufacturing and assembly processes, as workers can identify components, tools, and instructions at a glance.
- Using a consistent color coding scheme across different products and environments minimizes the cognitive load on employees, enabling them to focus on task execution rather than deciphering varied color meanings.
- Adherence to established standards can facilitate compliance with regulatory requirements, ensuring that signage and labeling meet safety guidelines while promoting a cohesive brand identity through visual consistency.
For signs or to convey a message, refer to
ISO 3864-3:2012: Graphical symbols — Safety colors and safety signs — Part 3: Design principles for graphical symbols for use in safety signs
complemented by:
ISO 3864-4:2011: Graphical symbols — Safety colors and safety signs — Part 4: Colorimetric and photometric properties of safety sign materials
Other particular regulations will refer to or follow these rules, like the medical industry for its labels or machine or equipment directives for all colored warnings and safety measures.
Usual Color meanings
Red & Green
the most frequently used, as
- Go/NO GO
- OK/NOT OK
- WORKING/NOT WORKING
and less frequently as Danger / Safe
Yellow
The general warning color
- Usually used alone as a “Work in progress” message
- Or used in combination with black in stripes (“danger zone”)
Blue
Blue can be misleading in everyday usage:
- Notice that only the traffic rules sign or in ISO standards is blue the color of mandatory instructions
Would you say that the Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn blue logos convey a mandatory instruction message?
- In everyday life, logos or products, the blue color is usually related to innovation or the future as seen in the video below
White / Black
Should be used with care, if the color itself needs to carry a message; they are mainly understandable if the opposite is also visible (like a boolean/yes-no message), as both could be a text or the background.
Tip: remember the old graphic rule that the dark supersedes, or overflows visually, on the light: a black bar on white background, will appear thicker than a white bar on a black background, even if the thickness is the same.
up to 3 different colors does help the ergonomics, 4-5 is a design challenge, and more than 5 is usually counterproductive
Tip: mind the background of the product: it should already count as one color to distinguish from if it is not white or black!
Color Coding to Convey a Feeling
Color coding in product design serves as a critical tool for conveying emotions and guiding user interactions. Various cultures attribute specific meanings to colors, influencing consumer perceptions and behaviors. For instance, blue often signifies trust and reliability in Western cultures, while red can evoke feelings of excitement or urgency. Historical contexts also shape these associations; for example, green, often linked to nature, can symbolize prosperity and health due to its connection with agriculture. Psychological studies suggest that colors can affect mood and cognition, impacting decision-making processes. Consequently, the choice of color in product design must consider these cultural, historical, and psychological factors to effectively communicate the intended message and enhance user experience.
Cultural or local exceptions: color coding in product design and engineering often requires careful consideration of cultural contexts, particularly with black and white colors, which carry varied meanings across different societies. In many Western cultures, black is frequently associated with mourning and sadness, while in other cultures, such as some African traditions, it can signify maturity and wisdom. Conversely, white is commonly linked to purity and peace in Western contexts, yet in certain Asian cultures, it is associated with death and loss.
These contrasting interpretations necessitate that designers and manufacturers conduct thorough research into local customs and sentiments to avoid miscommunication and ensure that products resonate positively with their intended audiences. Understanding these cultural nuances is essential for creating products that align with local values and expectations.
As an example, these beautiful houses in the picture on the left: while the scenery is magnificent and do convey big emotions, such a mix of dull colors should not be used to convey an informative message in product design on the right.
Colors To Distinguish Elements
The colors have no particular meaning here, but the role of making clear differences between objects. They usually use much more different colors than the cases above and these objects or labels may be very close to each other, making the color differentiation even more critical
This is used in games, in the industry, in Lean organizations, or in safety equipment such as in the library examples below
Colors Pallets to use
Depending on the required quantity of color needed, some tips to chose these colors
- Do not make take two variants of the same color in density (ex.: light orange vs orange)
- If the purpose is purely informational,
- take a color with a clear known name, not just for specialists
- use a professional color palette and chose the most frequent colors.
- These could be primary colors or secondary colors
- This will make already available paints or inks (easier to source, cheaper, and more compliant with health and safety standards, so as resistance and fire protection…)
- If your product is software or any kind of GUI, that needs some online display, use web colors whenever possible to ensure defacto all support compatibility
- use complementary colors if many are required or more originality (see links and video below).
| Recommended online free tools to use in the innovation.world Directory: | HTML Color Picker Colormind.io IA colors schemes designer Paletton.com color palette designer |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoHhL5Xksmw
Color Coding Examples
Electronics Industry
Used for resistor value coding: as an international standard, some stripes indicate the resistance value, while some indicate its tolerance. Such coding has been developed since the 1920s as the need for very small internal markings.
Read more on Electronic Color Coding for details.
And if No Color?
- Black and White because of the process: ebony and ivory on the traditional piano keys, but not only; color may not be an option because of price or process (laser marketing, black inkjet, ePaper, …)
- color blind people
then, in the pallet of visual design tricks still available, designers will have to combine other visual aids to highlight any particular message:
- shapes: triangles, circles, square hexagons such as on road signs
- font style and size
- Regular / Bold to emphasize the importance
- Capitals (BUT NOT TOO MUCH)
- special signs, marks, and logos
- embossing if process permits (paper usually, but feasible also on metal, plastic, tissues)
to be combined with other traditional human senses, the more frequent in communication being:
- sound: tone, frequency, level, and sequence of notes can be used for warnings, OK, NOT OK, validation, or indication of proximity
- touch: it is not only for bling users, it permits to focus visually on something else, while the fingers “know where they are”.
Read More
- User Experience (UX) Design: understanding how color influences user interaction and perception
- Visual Hierarchy: techniques for organizing information through color to guide user attention
- Color Theory: the science and psychology of color relationships and their impact on design
- Accessibility Standards: ensuring color choices meet guidelines for visibility and inclusivity (e.g., WCAG)
- Brand Identity: integrating color coding with brand elements for cohesive product identity
- Safety Signage Standards: guidelines for using color coding in safety signage and labeling
- Color Calibration: techniques for ensuring consistent color reproduction across different media and materials
- Environmental Impact: evaluating the sustainability of colorants and coatings used in products
- Color Psychology: exploring how colors can affect emotions and behaviors in consumers
- Cognitive Load Theory: understanding how color coding can reduce cognitive load in complex information systems
- Lean Manufacturing: implementing color coding in workflow processes to enhance efficiency and safety
- Data Visualization: using color coding to represent data effectively in product performance and analytics
External Links on Standardized Color Coding and Ergonomics
International Standards
(hover the link to see our description of the content)
Glossary of Terms Used
Graphical User Interface (GUI): a visual interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices through graphical elements such as windows, icons, buttons, and menus, enabling intuitive navigation and control without the need for text-based commands.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO): a non-governmental international body that develops and publishes standards to ensure quality, safety, efficiency, and interoperability across various industries and sectors, facilitating global trade and cooperation. Established in 1947, it comprises national standardization organizations from member countries.
User experience (UX): the overall satisfaction and perception of a user when interacting with a product, system, or service, encompassing usability, accessibility, design, and emotional response throughout the entire interaction process.
User Interface (UI): a system that enables interaction between users and software applications, encompassing visual elements, controls, and overall layout to facilitate user tasks and enhance experience.
Work in Progress (WIP): items that are partially completed in a production process, including raw materials, labor, and overhead costs incurred up to a certain point. These assets are not yet finished goods and are essential for tracking production efficiency and inventory management.
