← All Work
Color Study

Color Study

A color exploration of how tints, harmonies, and multi color palettes shape the mood and hierarchy of a single composition.

Year
October 2026
Project Type
Class Project
Class
ART 341 Graphic Design II
Deliverable
Color Study Mockups
Monochromatic Complementary Triadic CMYK
Color Study masthead: geometric pattern tiles spelling COLOR STUDY
Design Brief

For the Color Study project, the goal was to explore how color changes the mood, feel, and hierarchy of a composition. We started by pulling our favorite explorations from the Design Fundamentals Study, then tested them in grayscale, one color with tints, two colors with tints, exploring complementary and analogous color combinations, three colors with tints, using warm, cool, and triadic color combinations, and four colors in CMYK.

After receiving feedback from classmates, I refined the color systems I felt were strongest. From there, I chose one final composition and applied every color approach to it, from grayscale up to four colors. To finish off the project, I designed a pattern using a layout and color system I thought looked good, then applied it to a few mockups to show how the color choices could work in real life.

Explorations

Grayscale exploration: three layouts in two value variations each
One Color exploration: three layouts in two monochromatic blue variations each
Two Color exploration: three layouts in complementary and analogous pairings
Three Color exploration: three layouts in warm, cool, and triadic palettes
Four Color exploration: three layouts in CMYK palettes

Color Matching

Color Matching Option One
Color Matching Option One, circle composition, shown across grayscale, one color, two color, three color, and four color CMYK
Color Matching Option Two
Color Matching Option Two, diamond grid composition, shown across grayscale, one color, two color, three color, and four color CMYK
Color Matching Option Three
Color Matching Option Three, arc composition, shown across grayscale, one color, two color, three color, and four color CMYK

Final

Final composition: grayscale Final composition: one color Final composition: two color Final composition: three color
Final composition: four color CMYK

Applications

Color Study pattern applied to a transit shelter mural mockup
Color Study pattern applied to a second transit shelter mural mockup
Color Study pattern applied to beverage can mockups
Color Study pattern applied to a t-shirt mockup
← Previous Project
Design Fundamentals Study
← View Project
Next Project →
Explore With KRG Branding
View Project →