Color Contrast in Design-Build
Brandt is known for MEP design-build expertise, and much like the impact air conditioning and lighting has on the environment, color schemes also play a role.
If you’re looking to increase innovation in the corporate world, the bright color red increases attention to detail, improves proofreading accuracy, and raises alertness to errors. The color pink reduces aggression in prison inmates. Hospitals and schools use light green because it is calming and neutral in nature.
Blue boosts performance on creative tasks like brainstorming. Countries such as Japan and Scotland are using this color for outdoor lighting due to blue being associated with police and security, leading to a decrease in crime rates.
Bold uses of color and contrast strategically placed within a work environment, such as blue and orange, promote creativity, brainstorming, and alertness. However, the overuse of any color can lead to saturation and monotony, which decrease brain activity by being visually unstimulating.
In the learning and work environment, contrast and variety increases brain activity and attention span. Contrast, not color alone, is important to specific segments of the population. Variety and balance must be used with contrast to make sure a space is not overwhelmed. High contrast should be limited to only places of importance, highlighting moments of attention.
In the end you want to allow the user’s eyes to rest between areas so they can process and absorb more information. Be sure to balance the overall palette by avoiding contrasting bright colors as well as dull and similar colors. By doing this, you will establish a happy environment for your employees to work and customers to visit.
At Brandt, we include our users in the process of design-build to represent their specific vision and culture they choose for the look and feel of their own environment. Color is perceived by everyone differently so we want to make sure the colors are right for you.