Elevate UI Design with Some Color Strategies - Part 1

Color stands as a pivotal asset in a designer's arsenal. It forms an integral part of the visual lexicon that product designers employ to engage with their user base. Not only can the hues chosen for a user interface fulfill functional roles — like guiding users' eyes to specific elements on a page — they can also add aesthetic value by setting a particular mood.

In a series of articles, I aim to present some actionable tips I've learned for selecting and implementing colors in the UI design. This part is about brand color and color palette.

Brand Colors Should be as a Basis for the Color Palette

When developing a UI, it's crucial to consider using brand colors as the foundation of your color palette. This ensures consistency across all user touchpoints, reinforces brand identity, and establishes an instant connection with your audience.

For instance, if your brand primarily uses shades of blue and white, your UI should ideally incorporate these colors. You can extend this palette with complementary or analogous colors, but the core should remain aligned with the brand's identity.

Integrating a brand's established color palette into its UI design ensures a consistent and recognizable experience across various platforms and materials (such as logos, print materials, digital platforms, and product packaging). It not only reinforces the brand's identity but also creates an intuitive and harmonious interface for users already familiar with the brand.

With this in mind, it should not surprise you to see variations of McDonald's iconic yellow used for call-to-action buttons such as "Order Now" and "Download the App" on their website.

We can go a step further by using brand colors as decorative elements, like backgrounds. For instance, Slack employs one of its primary colors (#4a154b) as the background for its landing page. This particular shade of purple not only adds aesthetic appeal but also fortifies Slack's strong visual identity.

Looking forward to connecting with you in the next chapter!

Before you leave here, I invite you to try out this app I've developed for exploring the TailwindCSS color palette: TailwindPalette.com