The Designer's Dictionary of Color

by Sean Adams

The Designer’s Dictionary of Color provides an in-depth look at 30 colors key to art and graphic design. Organized by spectrum, in color-by-color sections for easy navigation, this book documents each hue with charts showing color range and palette variations. Chapters detail each color’s creative history and cultural associations, with examples of color use that extend from the artistic to the utilitarian—whether the turquoise on a Reid Miles album cover or the avocado paint job on a 1970s Dodge station wagon. A practical and inspirational resource for designers and students alike, The Designer’s Dictionary of Color opens up the world of color for all those who seek to harness its incredible power.

Genres: Design, Art, Nonfiction, Art Design, Fashion, Architecture, Business

Kindle Edition

First published April 11, 2017

About the author

Sean Adams is the Chair of the Undergraduate and Graduate Graphic Design Program at ArtCenter. He also serves as Executive Director of the Graphic Design Graduate Program. Adams continues his design practice with The Office of Sean Adams. He is the author of multiple books, and on-screen author for LinkedIn Learning. He is the only two-term AIGA national president in AIGA’s 100-year history. In 2014, Adams was awarded the AIGA Medal, the highest honor in the profession. He currently is on the editorial board and writes for Design Observer.

Adams is an AIGA and Aspen Design Fellow. He has been widely recognized by every major competition and publication, including a solo exhibition at SFMOMA. Adams has been cited as one of the forty most important people shaping design internationally, and one of the top ten influential designers in the United States. Previously, Adams was a founding partner of AdamsMorioka.

Reviews

[H (no longer expecting notifications) Balikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strange and wonderful book that wasn’t meant for me. Part inspirational, part categorical it suggests various approaches to color and the compatibility of colors for a given effect.

Here are some quotes on the subject of: What makes the difference between a good designer and a great designer:

“Good designers test the limits. Great designers go way past them.”
“Good designers follow. Great designers fearlessly plow forward.”
“Curiosity and the willingness to tackle audacious, complex, squirrelly wicked problems.”
“Compassion for clients and their problems, for the people who would interact with … designs, and for the cultures that will be transformed by the intentions….manifest in the world.”

It sits on my bedside table and demands I open it for short periods.
4*

[Erika Mulvenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't a scientific or theoretic book about color or color perception, but simply a book meant to explore a few popular colors and color combinations, or palettes.

Normally I can't stand books that are nothing but pages of selected color combinations. But I found this book extremely relaxing to just pick it up and flip through it without any expectations of learning new theories or ideas about color. It's fun to see a few graphic or artistic examples in each color section, and I actually liked seeing the hand picked palette variations on each color.

I've read some reviewers disappointment with what they see as a lack of information or explanations in this book, but the author didn't intend this book to be a text book. Looking at this book as it was intended - as color inspiration - it works well for me!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fajne.

[Eugenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Это просто красивая книжка про цвета, в ней красивые картинки на красивой бумаге, которые приятно рассматривать, она вкусно пахнет свежей книжкой. Короче, она будет жить у меня на прикроватной тумбочке. А ещё там коды цветов в cmyk и т. п., но я не дизайнер и мне вряд ли они пригодятся.

[Alisa Cupcakeland · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, you can tell this book was made by a designer because it's graphic organization is very thoughtful and it gives an impression of simmetry that I appreciated and enjoyed. It even feels luxurious, especially in the last section when we can clearly appreciate the fluorescent and metallic colors.

The linguist in me appreciated learning about the etymology of these different colors, and I found the palettes very helpful for someone who would want to start a website or the image of a brand and does not have the tools that a designer would have.

However, since it is such a big book in terms of pages and overall size, one would hope that it would give a deeper look into the cultural meanings associated with the colors the book mentions, or at least the sources used by the author so the reader can research more by himself.

[Lauren Hancock · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s more of a coffee table kind of book, probably best read in spurts whenever you feel like picking it up. But I enjoyed it enough that I read it in just a couple of sittings. I’ve never really learned or even thought that much about colors before, but now I’m noticing the colors of everything around me and really thinking about them, which it turns out is a pretty fun way to look at the world. I’m excited to learn more about colors.

[Deborah]

I found it effectively useless as a guide—the insights are specious, unverifiable (or at least unverified), culturally monolithic, and inconsistent. The charts lack sufficient context to serve as a reference. But I very much like the examples throughout. They’re varied and interesting.

[Jonathon Botts · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOOD BOOK BUT LACKED DETAIL AND DEPTH

the book was really insightful and fascinating from an artist perspective , the theory on color and cultural meaninging were a piece that was delightful. but diving in deeper into the relationships of each color more , and more in detail on the culural and literal aspects of the colors used. i also want to highlight the great parts of the book, the color examples used by the author : graphic prints from old to modern magazines pop and retro images. sculptures from high renaissance this was a great addition to reading about color, i felt the colors resonated more with the information. lastly, there was a good balance between color and information. reccomended book !

[Richard Magahiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a designer but I can admire the selection of graphic works they feature for each of the twenty-seven color families covered in this book to show the varieties of inspiration they can bring to an open-minded professional. I think a non-professional designing something like a document or a website might be able to take some of the palette ideas they feature at the end of each section and come up with a more effective design than they might have come up with on their own. You have to consume this kind of work with your eyes, not just your intellect, and if you are receptive to it you might well find ways to be grateful for your own ability to perceive so many colors.

[Sandra Navarro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es un libro visualmente muy cuidado, con lo cual, es genial hojearlo, disfrutar las fotos y los colores. Pudiera ser un buen libro de mesa o un libro para empezar a conocer sobre el color, tiene datos interesantes sobre el color pero no precisamente investigación rigurosa sobre la parte cultural por ejemplo. En el sentido de volver accionable el contenido, las paletas de color pudieran ser de lo más valioso sirviendo para detonar ideas o como guía. Al ser un trabajo tan enfocado en unos pocos colores, me hubiera gustado mucho encontrar más profundidad en las referencias culturales.

[Ostap Andrusiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explores different colours, emotions, colour combinations, examples of colour applications.

It's not a text book, rather an overview, a short encyclopedia. To me (a non-designer) it was exciting to look through the colour categories and read more about the emotions which different colours can create.

Bottomline: solid 4. Would be useful to a non-designer to better understand different colours and look through some examples of how they were applied.

[Ani Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is pretty straightforward and practical. It explores the association of colors either through brief history, symbolism, or psychological & cultural meanings.

Overall, I think this is a great guide for artists looking to improve color choices or to understand color/color theory more. Although, keep in mind this is more leaning towards the color inspo vs color theory-informational typa book.

[Baki Bora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not much to read, i've finished it in a day without almost a break. I really like strolling through pages to gather up an idea, gaining myself an intellectual knowledge of design. In this book i've found it with distinct successful design examples in terms of architecture, advertisement, design etc. always be on my mind to see whenever i want to think of something new.

[Khoa Pham · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a very fresh book to read for whoever wants to grasp some ideas about the sense, feeling, cultural meanings, and practical application of colors. It also has a myriad of visual and empirical instances for each color section. Conclusion: A book with light content for a novice designer regardless of whichever realm of design you are working at.

[Roseramble · Rating 1 out of 5]

The design of this book did not work for me.

The tiny type (artistically surrounded by swaths of white space) makes it difficult and time consuming to actually read. I quickly lost interest in trying.

[Sanskriti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deep dive into the meanings associated with colors, how it makes us feel, it's the cultural significance and where and how they are used. It has been illustrated in order to give the reader a clean experience of colors.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful resource for beginner designers. This book shows the tried and tested winning color combos. If you're feeling experimental as a designer, this wouldn't be up your alley.

I also love that somehow, the color "butter" has its own section.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of pretty pictures and a decent book layout.

However, the author's work was inside the examples too many times and his explanations of the colours often sounded copy and pasted from Wikipedia, without cohesive links/evaluations of this information.

[Mica ☆☆☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Color is subjective and emotional. It is often the most volatile element of a project. To declare the choice of a favorite color is inferior is to personally attack a person's core."

I've been meaning to read this book for years. I'm so glad I could finally do it!!!

[Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lacklustre effort with a very low information to page count ratio. Would have been more appropriately titled Learn the Names of All the Different Colours.

[Joycer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quick reference text for anyone who builds color palettes professionally

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three stars for rigor of theory & reasoning, five stars for curation of beautiful works of design and art.

[Dallas J. Jaggard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally changed the way I view everything. So so worth it.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me parece un libro muy interesante y cuidado, de gran utilidad para diseñadores.
¡Lo recomiendo!

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Informative

I have to have this book. I am so in love with color after reading the book. I will definitely get some of these books for my students.
Victoria

[Eleonora Dall'oco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mi trovo ad avere tra le mani una grande guida sui colori e sul loro utilizzo, non vedo l'ora di comprare altri titoli di questo tipo, Colorpedia è comodo e funzionale. Lo uso sempre quando lavoro, piacevole alla vista e chiaro nelle spiegazioni

[Aishwarya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the simplicity of this book. Also, the colour guide and pallets after each colour are very helpful while designing.

[Geof Sage · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blue 30/53. It's basically a guidebook to what colors are what and how to use them.

It was pretty, full of pretty pictures and pretty colors. Would have appreciated more analysis of the themes of what each color connotes, even a paragraph more apiece, and/or an additional page spread per color of objects and design. So pretty though.

[DANIEL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! Must have if colours are your thing😍

[Ming's fantasy myth library · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars