Product color emotional design adaptive to product shape feature variation

When a user selects a product, he/she considers the emotional experience induced by the product color. However, when affected by product shape feature, the color image perception space of a user becomes more complex and dynamic. To address this problem, a product color emotional design method adaptive to product shape feature variation is proposed in this article. Based on psychological means, factor analysis and semantic differential methods are used to elucidate the mechanism for the formation of a color image perception space of a user influenced by product shape feature. Using support vector regression, a product color image evaluation model adaptive to product shape feature variation is constructed, and is then optimized via a genetic algorithm. A corresponding design system is constructed based on the method proposed in this article. A case study involving the design of a thermos for children is presented to demonstrate the operational procedure involved in the proposed method and to verify its performance. The results of the verification experiments confirm that the design scheme from system recommendation essentially meets the anticipated image target and assists the designer effectively. The method and system proposed in this study can generate a product color design scheme, which is unconstrained by shape feature and can satisfy user emotional preferences and needs, and have a certain applicability and practicability.     

Visual customization: Diversity in color preferences in the automotive interior and implications for interior design

Evolving multimodal mobility needs influences established human–product relationships and requires a deeper insight into color preferences for car interiors. Hence, a study was conducted in which 204 members of a web contest created 1,265 designs. After a peer‐evaluation process, 53 most‐appreciated and 34 least‐preferred interior color compositions were identified and compared to identify patterns in color choices. Besides, visual lightweight design by layering of large interior components such as the seat, a modest use of color and patterns accompanied by repetition and the framing of the entire interior to create a feeling of spaciousness were found. Additionally, differences in the type of color between most and least favored color designs were found. Brown and beige occur more frequently among the top‐ than the worst‐rated designs. Larger surfaces are favored in lighter hues and smaller components in darker hues.     

Dreams of light for the city

This article describes research that aspires to develop a tool to restore well-tempered variety, space-time continuity, identity, and self-visualization to contemporary Greek urbanscape. This tool uses color as a building facade structuring material and takes into account confusing plastic structure and the shifting nature of contemporary Greek urban populations. the research is based on existing information and on psychometric data with users. The project included six stages: a) an estimation of the deviation of the existing representational space from the desired space representation, b) a semiotic analysis of representative building facade samples into generic color forms, (c) the recording of the color preferences of selected subjects for these forms, d) a semantic coding of the subjects' reasons for these preferences, e) the establishment of a color scheme on the basis of the resulting color combinations, and f) a comparison of the color choices by the various groups of subjects for each building category. The results show that a) color is mostly affected by the sociocultural aspect of architecture, b) function is the major parameter taken into account for middle-class constructions, c) the visual differentiation resulting from the color rendering of the facade elements according to the subjects' preferences can lead to architecture and planning identification, d) spatial, functional, and sociocultural qualities can also be attributed to the city through color-conditioning, and e) above all, color can best portray the particular character of a city, what it was, is, or wants to be in the future.     

Multiemotional product color design using gray theory and nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-III

When users select products, they consider the emotional experience resulting from the color of the product. However, the emotional demands of users for product color are multidimensional and diverse. It is very important yet difficult to accurately grasp multiemotional image requirements and effectively convert them into design elements. Therefore, multiemotional product color design (MEPCD) has become a very important and challenging research topic. In this article, a novel MEPCD system using gray theory (GT) and nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-III (NSGA-III) is proposed to effectively solve the MEPCD problem. First, the image perception spaces of users, which exist in different emotional dimensions, were collected using factor analysis and the semantic differential technique. Then, GT was used to establish a multidimensional emotional product color image evaluation model. Finally, NSGA-III was used to optimize and design a multiemotional color scheme for a product. Furthermore, according to actual conditions, an MEPCD system was established based on the proposed method. The design case study shows that the method and design system proposed in this article have a certain range of applicability and can effectively improve the practicality of MEPCD.     

Preference for accent and background colors in interior architecture in terms of similarity/contrast of natural color system attributes

Color combination criteria are said to entail an affective response in interior design. We investigated the color combination criteria that orient the preference of current observers, after Le Corbusier's 1931 Salubra keyboards. We explored the similarity/contrast in Natural Color System (NCS) hue, blackness, and chromaticness in 312 combinations with four colors, two backgrounds and two accent colors, coming from 43 individual colors, on the walls of a simulated interior of a bedroom from the Swiss Pavilion (Le Corbusier, 1930-1931). Participants were 644 students of architecture and interior design in Western Europe and Near East, who evaluated with a Likert scale their preference for virtual images via an online survey. Results indicate that the most preferred color combinations are those with hues closer in the color wheel, being the similarity between hues in the backgrounds more important than in the accent colors, and with NCS B30G to G as the most preferred hues. Observers preferred color compositions with blackness under 10% and similar blackness between the two background colors, together with a certain blackness contrast between these background colors and the two color accents. Similarly, observers liked color compositions with low chromaticness and low chromaticness difference among the four colors of the composition.     

Product color emotional design considering color layout

Emotional experience and demand for product colors are important factors in users' decisions to buy and use a product. Therefore, accurately characterizing users' emotional responses of the product's color has become a significant consideration for product color design. However, a product color design problem exists in which it is challenging to accurately and efficiently position users' color image space because consumers have completely different image perceptions when encountering a large number of color schemes generated by different color spatial distributions. For this reason, this article proposes a product color emotional design method that considers the color layout. A table is built of an elemental composition for product color design, which contains color layout forms. This article also establishes a mapping model based on the semantic difference and back propagation neural network between the users' color image perceptions and the elements of the product's color design. The system recommends a color layout form that matches the users' emotional image goal through the k‐nearest neighbor algorithm, and then the form is initialized using a genetic algorithm. The system can realize the solution to the optimal product color scheme by optimizing and evaluating the population. Designers can make intuitive choices and decisions through the product color recommendation system. Through an example of color design for industrial vacuum cleaners, this article shows that the method has satisfactory feasibility and applicability for solving the problem of the optimization of product color design with color layout forms.     

Color research in architectural education—A cross-cultural explorative study

This study investigates the knowledge of architectural students about perceptual and psycho-physiological aspects of color, color nomenclature, existing myths and beliefs, and how color is used in their everyday work in the studios. Data were collected mainly by means of questionnaires, to first- and final-year students in five schools of architecture: three in Sweden and two in the United Kingdom. The results were analyzed for each country and educational level, and comparisons made between them. The findings show there is a severe lack of knowledge about color research in both countries. Reading color literature and attending lectures or conferences was rare. However, most participants reported positive attitudes toward color research, especially studies of color perception and color preferences. Knowledge of the Natural Color System (NCS) and British Standard (BSI) was poor, and only a handful of the respondents knew the theoretical basis of the systems. Most of the students complained about the lack of coverage of the subject area in lectures, seminars, or studio work, with very little theory and only few practical exercises. Because students perceive color design as their own future responsibility and basic design education seems to be the main source of color information, the problem of this deficient knowledge should be seriously addressed by researchers and educators. The results suggest ways of improvement and list the most appropriate and preferred methods of communicating research on color. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 23, 328–334, 1998     

Color preferences for different topics in connection to personal characteristics

Studies on color preferences are dependent on the topic and the relationships with personal characteristics, particularly personality, but these are seldom studied in one population. Therefore a questionnaire was collected from 1095 Dutch people asking for color preferences about different topics and relating them to personal characteristics. Color preferences regarding different topics show different patterns and significant differences were found between gender, age, education and personality such as being technical, being emotional or being a team player. Also, different colors were mentioned when asked for colors that stimulate to be quiet, energetic, and able to focus or creative. Probably, due to unconsciousness of contexts, many people had no color preference, a result that in the literature seldom is mentioned. Blue was the overall favorite color; however, most males chose for blue (25%) while most females had no color preference (18%). Black was the overall favorite color for clothing, mainly chosen by females (40%), while males primarily chose blue (27%). For building interiors subjects preferred white. For moods, subjects preferred white for being quiet or being able to focus, red for being energetic and had no color preference for being creative. It is concluded that color preferences are dependent upon the topic, and personal characteristics. The findings are important for architects, interior designers, fashion designers and product designers to have a basic idea of preferred colors for different objects by different types of people. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 40, 62–71, 2015     

An analysis scheme for estimation of crude oil quality

A seed analysis scheme was designed to rapidly estimate the quality of extracted oil. Factors of crude oil quality evaluated were: free fatty acids, oxidative status (Totox value), color, and phosphatides (soybean) or wax (sunflower). Soybean and sunflower seeds subjected to extended storage at varying moisture contents were sampled at incremental time periods to yield fifty storage-damaged samples of each oilseed. Oil was extracted from 50-g lots of each sample and analyzed for the crude oil quality factors according to standard methods. Alternative instrumental and chemical analyses of the quality factors were correlated with the standard methods. Hexanal content, measured by headspace-gas Chromatographie analysis of the ground full-fat meal, was correlated to the oxidative status. Crude oils recovered by rapid extraction, using sonication, and desolventation were monitored by spectrophotometry for color correlation. Free fatty acid content was determined by titration methods and monitored by spectrophotometry. Modified turbidimetric methods estimated the phosphatides (soybean) or wax (sunflower seed) contents. The analysis scheme provides for the rapid estimation of oil quality as impacted by various pre- and post-harvest events that cause deterioration of oilseeds. The mention of firm names or trade products does not imply that they arc endorsed or recommended over other firms or similar products not mentioned.     

Hierarchical emotional color theme extraction

Artists usually carefully select different colors in artistic work so as to convey special visual and emotional feelings. Color theme extraction techniques can help users to acquire the color styles in an image. However, current color theme extraction methods ignore the emotional factors, and they can only provide a single theme result for an image as well, neither of which meet people's favor on different colors under different mood states. This article introduces the conception of emotional color theme, introduces the color emotion theory into color theme extraction, and proposes a novel emotion color theme extraction framework. To achieve these goals, we perform the theme extraction with emotion value of each pixel instead of color value. The emotional discrepancy is proposed between the colors in the theme to evaluate a color theme quality and prove it with color theme dataset. Then a data driven approach is adopted to optimize the color theme. Different from previous optimizing strategies, we built the emotional relation between the target theme and the candidate theme. Our method can enhance the color editing results of previous methods, e.g., for color transfer our results can demonstrate hierarchical emotions from a single reference image. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 41, 513–522, 2016     

The influence of color on impulsiveness and arousal: Part 1 – Hue

Impulsiveness and arousal are two similar yet distinct emotional and behavioral states that have been shown to be influenced by color in many fields, such as clothing and environment design. This series of studies investigates the fundamental theory of how color impacts on people's impulsiveness and arousal states. To achieve this goal, psychophysical methods were used to examine the impact of color environment on impulsiveness and arousal. Two main factors were used to quantify them: response time and error rate in problem solving. The psychophysical experiment was designed to examine whether, in a particular color environment, the response time and error rate were different. Participants sat in front of a large TV screen showing different colored backgrounds against which a range of psychometric tests were completed. The color backgrounds varied in hue. During the experiment, participants were required to give their responses to each of the psychometric tests as quickly and accurately as possible. The results showed that different colors can significantly influence response time and error rate, which suggests that color has a distinct influence on impulsiveness and arousal. Gender difference has also been investigated. This article mainly discusses hue influence on impulsiveness and arousal. The influence of chroma along with hue will be explored in the next article.     

Progression of color decision making in introductory design education

Color comprises both subjective and objective aspects within its contextual nature. Research on color design tends to explore this seemingly contradictory concerns from theoretical point of view, as well as architectural and design practice. The aim of this study was to observe subjective, intuitive or heuristic and objective, knowledge‐based or analytical attitudes toward color in design education. In the study 84 introductory design students were surveyed progressively to understand their color decision criteria after completion of three 2‐dimensional colored exercises, specific in terms of color education. Students' responses to open‐ended questions were coded according to the 5 categories, under 2 decision making processes derived from the literature; heuristic approach: preferential and symbolic criteria, and analytic reasoning: formal, thematic, and systematic criteria. A distinction between associative and emotional aspects of symbolic criteria was also revealed by the data analysis. The findings showed a shift from heuristic responses to analytic reasoning, as expected. Additionally, it is also investigated that students not only used heuristic approaches but also analytical components (formal and systematic) of color decision making in varying degrees as well, even before any color subjects covered. Thematic color decisions became a major part of the students' design considerations upon completion of color subjects. The observed increase in the number of color criteria interrelated by the students' among almost all categories explicated a complex decision making process particularly in color design and education. These findings were expected to lead to some further understanding in color decision making in design.     

An adaptive approach to create on‐demand color schemes for mapping quantitative geographic data

Creating a satisfying quantitative color scheme is challenging for both novices and experts. Geovisualization often suffers from the misuse and misunderstanding of quantitative color schemes. This article presents an adaptive method to create ready‐to‐use quantitative schemes. A probability‐based method for color selection is presented to quantify the selection of quantitative colors from learning samples of varying popularity. To shape the color transitions, a regression analysis is performed to fit the mathematical curves for the transitions of hue, saturation, and brightness. Finally, the problem of creating satisfying quantitative schemes is translated into a multiconstraint optimization problem. A discretize‐and‐filter method is also presented to solve the optimization problem of globally identifying a suitable scheme in a continuous color space. The proposed method is evaluated with a case study, and the results indicate that the proposed method can derive satisfying schemes. In addition, the proposed method is adaptive to mapping feature, target reader and target device.     

Correlations between color attributes and children's color preferences

This study examined the role of color attributes (lightness and saturation) on children's color preferences for interior room colors. It also investigated children's most preferred colors among each of the five major hue families in the Munsell color system using scale‐models. Previous color preference studies have typically been done with small color chips or papers, which are very different from seeing a color applied on wall surfaces. A simulation method allowed for investigating the value of color in real contexts and controlling confounding variables. Forty‐five color samples were displayed on scale‐models to 63 children ages 7–11 years old. This study identified children's most preferred colors among each of the five major hue families in Munsell color system. It also demonstrated that saturation was positively correlated with children's preferences in the red, green, blue, and purple hue families. In the yellow hue family, interestingly, lightness has a positive correlation with preferences. Children's gender differences were found in that girls prefer red and purple more than boys. These findings lead to color application guidelines for designers to understand better color and eventually to create improved environments for children and their families. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 39, 452–462, 2014     

An interactive method for generating harmonious color schemes

We present an interactive visualization tool for generating color schemes that can be used by both professional artists and novice designers to improve their design efficiency. The method is developed on two color harmony principles of familial factors and rhythmic spans from conventional color theories. The interactive tool makes use of these principles for users to interactively generate colors palettes containing harmonious combinations in the hue, saturation, and lightness color space in as few steps as possible. A pilot study with 20 participants has shown that this tool provides efficient workflow, color‐scheme harmony, and intuitive interaction, demonstrating the usefulness of the method. This work contributes to an artistic‐theory driven harmonious color‐scheme generation and to interactive user interfaces visualizing color relationships. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 39, 70–78, 2014     

Effect of area on color harmony in simulated interiors

The main aim of this study is to examine the effect of area on color harmony in simulated interior spaces. The secondary aim of the study is to investigate how the term color harmony is defined and the link between color harmony and related terms used to define it. These terms can explain why a color scheme is evaluated as harmonious. Four sets of three-color combinations created by using the hues red, blue, yellow, green, purple, and orange were studied in a simulated office interior emphasizing different proportional use of each color. Firstly, participants evaluated harmony content of the images. Secondly, they evaluated each image regarding the terms related to color harmony. Findings indicated that area had an effect on color harmony for two of the color combinations (warm & cool). However, there were no strong but rather moderate and weak correlations between color harmony and the terms.     

Influences of psychological factors on image color preferences evaluation

To bring substantial benefits of image designing for image designers and image processing professionals, this study focused on the image samples taken by digital cameras and tried to explore the influence of psychological factors on image color preference. First, we collected 310 questionnaires to investigate the types of image that interest the people in Taiwan. The images that Taiwanese prefer were categorized into seven types: People, Scenery, Artificial Environment, Plants, Animals, Still Life, and Food. Then, based on the results of this survey, total 81 images were collected. Next, six psychological factors (Color Memory, Color Comfort, Colorfulness, Color Harmony, Color Image, Concerned Area) on image color preference were identified by the Delphi method and literature review and then developed into another survey. A total of 150 people, as subjects, took this survey and gave their evaluation according to their image color preferences. Finally, using multiple regression statistics, this study discussed the relationship between psychological factors and image color preferences. This study discovered that each psychological factor plays a different role in different image categories. For instance, Color Comfort plays the most influential role in the Scenery image. Color Harmony is influential in the Food and Plants image. Concerned Area, likewise, is important in the image categories of People, Artificial Environment, and Still Life. Based on the results of this research, it is suggested to take psychological factors into consideration when dealing with different image categories in obtaining the best color performance of images. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2010     

Comparative studies on color preference in Japan and other Asian regions,with special emphasis on the preference for white

The results of three surveys are presented. The first survey was carried out in four large cities in Japan, and the findings were analyzed by factor analysis and cluster analysis. The second survey was carried out in Seoul, Korea and Tokyo, Japan to determine color preference in the two countries, focusing on the preference for white. The last survey compared color preference in Taipei and Tokyo, also with emphasis on the preference for white. In these successive studies on color preference in Japan and other Asian cities, the subjects were mainly asked to choose from a color chart the three colors they liked most and the three they liked least, and to state the reasons for their choices. The results of Survey 1 showed that color preference could be influenced by differences in age, sex, and geographical region. Also factor analysis and cluster analysis indicated some relation between color preference and the subjects' life styles. Dual scaling analysis of the results of Surveys 2 and 3 indicated that each Asian area has unique color preference tendencies and that there are statistically significant differences in the frequency of selection of colors of certain hues and tones. However, a high preference for white was common to all areas, along with preferences for some other colors. These results thus demonstrated a common strong preference for white in three neighboring Asian areas. The reasons given for the choices suggested that besides the factors of age and sex, associative images based on environmental and cultural aspects may be an important factor influencing color preference. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

A comparison between wishes and status: Gray is not the preference for residents while the city shows neutral colors

Urban color has become one of the hot topics in China since 2000. To provide suggestions for making the urban color plan for Changzhou of about 253 square kilometers in 2011, the research group evaluated the visual quality of the present architectural color in real urban space and investigated the residential attitude for the present and the future ones. Open‐ended questionnaire of 1065 was taken effectively face to face accompanied with NCS Cascade 980 to understand the residents' attitude about the present architectural color in Changzhou city, and the expectations for the future. At the same time, an overall survey and evaluation on the present architectural color was conducted from the aspects of materials, functions, environmental and color relationship as well as the color code itself. Data reveal the residents' attitude to color preferences is more tolerant in hue with no special color bias, and inclined to those with obvious chroma and clear color predisposition, not very vivid, nor very dark. While the site survey shows the present color focuses mostly in high or middle‐high brightness, neutral ones. In site evaluation and analysis, architecture obtained good scores are those have obviously color predisposition. Colors that are inclined to good scores still have obvious color tendency but is lighter than that of good ones and mostly concentrate in the middle high and high brightness. Although still shows warm colors the most, the color tendency was not so obvious and the proportion of grayish ones increased. As to colors inclined to bad, very large proportion of grayish color existed. Actually, the most insurance color people usually thought, if has no good façade form supporting, is difficult to obtain a pleasant visual effect. Also, if the material is not in agreement with the color, the visual effect will be even worse.     

Color‐person‐environment relationships

Although the nature of color and the person environment relationship are both well‐documented, it is posited that both domains need to be integrated to understand the active role that color plays in the relationship between a person and the surrounding environment. The color person environment relationship (COL‐PE) introduced in this article is an important theoretical concept for designers, and as a consequence, for environmental‐color researchers to investigate. The potential of color to be an active agent in the relationship between people and environments is introduced by drawing upon what is known about color and the person environment relationship from other sources. The nature of transition spaces is used to emphasize how color affects the emotional connection and disconnection between people and spaces. As an example of COL‐PE, transition spaces highlight the nature of the person who is also psychologically in‐transition and color as a potentially important aspect of the transitory experience. In addition, the connections between color and the constructs that we hold of the people who visit, work, or live in particular environments will be discussed briefly. Designers often focus on the object or artifact which is being colored (whether a building or a chair) as an end in itself, without considering in any depth how the designed objects or places can influence how people experience their daily activities and each other. COL‐PE is introduced as a means to address this omission and broaden designers' understandings of the potential impact of their work. The discussion of the aspects of environmental design (with particular reference to architecture and interior design), introduces the foundation of the COL‐PE as a particular way of addressing color in the built environment. The principles of COL‐PE are relevant for a range of disciplines involved in environmental design including urban design, landscape architecture, interior design, industrial design, and architecture. The COL‐PE aims to make explicit what is often an unrecognized or tacit understanding of the role of environmental color, and thereby, the article highlights the need for research to understand the relationship more fully. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 33, 312–319, 2008.