Colour Harmony

Alexis Y. and Katrina L. (Grade 6)

Representing Westmount Charter School

SCIENCE FAIR 2023

EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT

LOGBOOK

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page ……………………………………………………….. 1

Table of Contents ……………………………………………… 2

Scientific Question ……………………………………………. 3

Hypothesis ……………………………………………………… 3

Background Research ………………………………………… 4

Variables ………………………………………………………… 5

Materials ………………………………………………………… 6

Procedure ……………………………………………………….. 7

Data ………………………………………………………………. 7

Observations ……………………………………………………. 7

Analysis ………………………………………………………….. 8

Conclusion ………………………………………………………. 8

Sources Of Error ………………………………………………...8

Application ……………………………………………………… 9

Citations …………………………………………………………. 9

Acknowledgments …………………………………………….. 9

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SCIENTIFIC QUESTION
Which of the following colour combinations is the most popular?

● Complementary
● Split Complementary
● Double Complementary
● Analogous
● Triadic
● Monochromatic

We chose this question because we wanted to learn more about our colour vision and
our preference for colours.

HYPOTHESIS
Out of all the colour combinations, we believe that analogous will be the most popular
colour pattern because the colours are similar and are the easiest on the eyes. As they
are harmonious and similar colours, they create an effect that most colour patterns
cannot recreate. For example, complementary colours create a nice contrast but it
doesn’t create the same effect. This is why we believe that analogous will be the most
popular colour combination pattern.

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BACKGROUND RESEARCH (QUOTED FROM COLOR DESIGN WORKBOOK (2017))
● “Complementary - color pairs that are directly opposite each other on the color
wheel. They represent the most contrasting relationships. The use of two
complementary colors will cause a visual vibration and excite the eye.”
● “Split complementary - the three-color schemes in which one color is
accompanied by two others that are spaced equally from the first color’s
complement. The contrast is toned down somewhat, providing a more
sophisticated relationship.”
● “Double complementary - the combination of two pairs of complementary colors.
As complements increase the apparent intensity of each other, not all color sets
will be pleasing. Avoid using equal volumes of the four colors to make the scheme
less jarring.”
● “Analogous - combinations of two or more colors that are spaced equally from
each other on the color wheel. These colors have similar light ray wavelengths, so
they are easiest on the eye.”
● “Triadic is combinations of any three colors that are spaced evenly around the
color wheel. Triads with primaries are garish, but secondary and tertiary triads
provide softer contrast. Triads in which two of the colors share a common
primary may seem more pleasing.”
● “Monochromatic - color schemes made up of shades and tints of a single color. Use
one hue and explore variety in saturation and lightness to form an allied
combination of similar colors.”

BACKGROUND RESEARCH (QUOTED FROM MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY WEBSITE)

● “Complementary colors enhance each other’s intensity when placed right next to
each other, which is why they’re often used to create bold, high-contrast images
that pop.”
● “Analogous colors ... together, they look aesthetically pleasing and produce a
calming effect … typically, one color in a scheme of analogous colors is the
dominant hue, a second color supports it, and a third color acts as an accent.
Analogous schemes are often used in artworks that depict nature or calming
scenes.”

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BACKGROUND RESEARCH (QUOTED FROM UX PLANET (MEDIUM) ARTICLE)
● “Analogous colour palettes create designs that are incredibly harmonious and
easy to look … analogous colours are like next doors on the colour wheel … are
groups of three colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel, such as
blue, blue-green, and green … They usually match well and create comfortable
designs. Analogous colour schemes are often found in nature and are harmonious
and pleasing to the eye. So this is something to think about when you’re designing
an app/ web system background screen or the main interface of the app/ web
system.”
● “Opposite of colours … that’s called complementary colours. Complementary
colour palettes produce extremely classy designs that stand out that grab
attention. And it can be good for logo design, but they don’t make very good
colour palettes for your main interface.”
● “Triadic colours tend to be quite well balanced and yet still attention grabbing”

VARIABLES
Our manipulated variable (MV) is asking different people about their favourite colour
combinations because that is what we are purposefully changing (who we ask) to
observe the change in our experiment.

Our responding variable (RV) is different people's different answers because it responds
to us asking different people about their favourite colour combination.

Our controlled variable (CV) is the 6 options of colour combinations, because there are
other lesser known combinations that could have been used, but we stuck to the 6 main
choices.

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MATERIALS
1. Color Design Workbook by Sean Adams (2017)
a. Colour combination patterns on pg. 21

2. Pencil/Pen
3. Notebook
4. Computer

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PROCEDURE
1. Show 25 people page 21 of ‘Color Design Workbook’ , making sure it is the new
revised edition, and ask them which colour combination looks the most
eye-pleasing
2. Record their answers in a notebook
3. At the end of the experiment, tally the results and analyze the data

DATA

OBSERVATIONS
● Split complementary colour combinations turned out to be unpopular - no one chose it
● Analogous, on the other hand, was extremely popular and was chosen by 9 out of 25
people
● Double complementary was the second most popular colour combination, chosen by 6 out
of 25 people
● Triadic and monochromatic had 5 and 3 voters, respectively
● Surprisingly, complementary was incredibly low in popularity with only 2 voters

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ANALYSIS
Analogous was proven to be the most popular colour combination, and when asked,
experiment participants said that they like analogous colours because the colours are
similar and look good together, proving our hypothesis correct. Split complementary
colour combinations were the least popular, according to our survey. A possible
explanation is that the colours create an odd contrast. Complementary colour
combinations were surprisingly unpopular, showing that no matter how iconic the
Christmas colours are, people still prefer analogous much more.

CONCLUSION
From the results of our experiment, we can conclude that analogous colour combinations
are the most popular because they are the most gentle on the eyes and pair well with
each other. We can also conclude that split complementary colour combinations are
unpopular and create colour combinations that are not preferred by most people. Our
hypothesis was that analogous colour combinations would be the most popular colour
combination because the colours are similar and create a great colour scheme. We can
now conclude that our hypothesis was correct.

SOURCES OF ERROR
● Having a small number of participants
○ If we had more participants, we could have made the data more non-bias
and therefore more reliable. Everybody at our school has received a
similar education and we might have a bias. If we asked random people on
the street, in our community, or in a building or facility, it would increase
the randomness and the unlikeliness to create a bias.
● Not considering colour blindness
○ If we had considered colour blindness, our results might have been
different. Colour-blind people can’t tell certain colours apart, and if they
thought one colour was another, it might have messed the combinations
up. If this happened, they might have opted to choose a different
combination because of their colour blindness.

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APPLICATION
This project may help designers, artists, or even normal people when trying to figure out
what colours to use in a project that people will find ‘nice-looking’. For example, we now
know that split complementary colour combinations are not extremely popular, so if we
are doing a project that needs to be extremely successful, we should use a more popular
colour scheme such as red, red-orange, and orange, or in other words an analogous
colour scheme.

CITATIONS
1. Adams, Sean, and Terry Lee Stone. Color Design Workbook : A Real-World Guide
to Using Color in Graphic Design. Beverly, Ma, Rockport Publishers, 2017.
2. “The Art of Color: Color Wheel & Color Relationships.” Maryville Online,
online.maryville.edu/liberal-arts-degrees/the-art-of-color/.
3. ​Chathurika, Harshani. “Analogous Colors and Color Wheel.” Medium, 17 Apr.
2019, uxplanet.org/analogous-colors-and-color-wheel-609a05b5b90e.
4. “MyBib – a New FREE APA, Harvard, & MLA Citation Generator.” MyBib,
www.mybib.com/#/projects/NRzom0/citations/new.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A special thank you to our parents, teachers, as well as all our participants for supporting
us! We couldn't have done this without you!!