IT’S ALL ABOUT THE WAY YOUR EYES AND BRAIN SEE COLOUR…

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Our perception of colour comes from tiny photoreceptors or ‘cones’ in our eyes which detect different wave lengths of light. There are 3 types, each of which detect a different wavelength and our brain interprets each of these as different colours, and then makes up all the rest of the colour spectrum by mixing these 3 colours.

When we stare at a strong colour for a long time, the receptors for that colour become tired, and we briefly stop seeing that colour. This creates an ‘Afterimage’ where the brain thinks it is seeing a different or ‘complementary’ colour.

Try the different colour options opposite, and you will see that not only does the original colour change – but also the colour the dots change to is different. If you look at the colour wheel below you will see that whichever colour you start with, it changes to the colour on the opposite side of the wheel – its ‘complementary’ colour.

A similar principal is responsible for the way that when you look at a bright light, as you look away you get a brief ‘negative’ afterimage.

WHAT’S THAT GOT TO DO WITH GRAPHICS?

Graphic Design is all about using the way people see things to create a desired response – whether it’s to surprise them with the unexpected, or simply to make information clearer and more attractive.

From adverts and brochures, to a website or a logo - you may not always know why it looks good and works, but you know that it does!

Like our design principles, the spinning dots affect your perceptions in entirely predictable ways. By understanding the way people see things, we deliver effective and engaging communications that create exactly the right impression for your audience.

Find out more about Hullabaloo and the way we work in the rest of our website, or contact us to discuss what we can do for you.