Research into Similar Products: Potential Colour Schemes

Red

When looking at “Alternative music magazines” I noticed the colour red showed up more than any other colour. Red is a god colour to use as part of a masthead or as something you wish to make stand out as it is a vibrant colour that catches the eye of the reader. Red brings text and images to the foreground, used as an ancient colour to stimulate quick decisions. The colour red has connotations with fire and blood. It is also associated with energy, danger, strength and power, as well as passion and love.

Red is a very emotion intense colour which suits the emotional section of the alternative genre.  

Pale Blue

On the colour wheel, the opposite (and therefore best accompanying colour) to red is Pale/Light Blue. The colour blue is associated with cold, damp and slow compared to Red. Therefore, the blue will sit as a background for the red’s vividness. While red has connotations with danger and energy blue is seen to be peaceful and cool. Because of this, the colour combination of blue and red will work well together.

Grey

Similar to blue, grey contrasts red. Grey is seen as a cool, neutral, emotionless colour. It is typically associated with dullness and dirty, but also as formal and sophisticated. Grey is also associated with loss or depression, which could link with the genre of the magazine.