Color Theory, Psychology, and the truth about "Finding Your Season"

Today we've got color on the brain, after reading this article in The Atlantic about color theory's role in the fashion and beauty industry. It specifically addresses the idea behind color analysis and “finding your season,” and while this idea falls somewhere in the spectrum between research-backed theory and marketing mumbo-jumbo, color theory is very real and based on the science of light, optics, and how our brains perceive and interpret the world.

You may have heard that certain color combinations will “play nice” with each other, while others will clash. This isn't entirely subjective, and artists will sometimes intentionally use ugly or clashing color palettes to evoke a particular emotional response from their audience. This article explains a bit more about why this color clashing happens, and also helpfully explains how to use this knowledge to your advantage in interior design.

The impact of color on the subconscious mind is referred to as “color psychology.” Color has been shown to alter mood, and has been used in therapeutic treatments and in marketing and advertisements to create subconscious positive associations with brands. Interestingly, the shade “Baker-Miller Pink” was found to subdue aggressive behavior, which had several unique practical applications. Read more about it in this article by David Byrne. (yes, that David Byrne.) 

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