COLOUR THEORY

As Lead Artist it is my responsibility to ensure all assets work accordingly to avoid colour clashing, mismatching styles and generally an unattractive appearance. I have begun creating an Art Bible for asset creators/2D artist to define the look of the vertical slice and guide their development. This includes inspiration mood-boards, colour schemes and descriptions.

The Art Bible can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qKwRhWw8a2JGt2Nr4HGmWCvtkofPeI06UNyEWZNRwFY/edit?usp=sharing

My research based on Colour Theory will help me to understand which colours appear best with each other as well as harmonising and contrasting colours. Understanding this will result in more attractive and satisfying visuals. This research contributes to my 'Training' and learning and understanding the different aspects of being a developer and designer.

"Color Theory for Designers, Part 1: The Meaning of Color" - Cameron Chapman

RESEARCH LINK: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/01/color-theory-for-designers-part-1-the-meaning-of-color/

"A colour that can evoke one reaction in person may evoke the opposite reaction in another, due to culture, prior association, or even just personal preference" - understand that some elements of design are subjective.

"Something as simple as changing the exact hue or saturation of a colour can evoke a completely different feeling"

THE COLOUR WHEEL

WARM COLOURS

Warm colours include red, orange and yellow shades.

These colours represent energy, passion and positivity. As well as being associated with fire, autumn leaves, sunsets and sunrises. Warm colours should be used in designs to "reflect passion, happiness, enthusiasm and energy". Consequently, this are the kind of colours appropriate for Anima Mundi, in order to depict the feeling of warmth, energy and passion. (Links to self-discovery and enlightenment, player should feel enlightened and optimistic)

RED - Hot, fire, violence and warfare. Also associated to love and passion. Can be linked to the feeling of anger however also importance - linking to red carpets and award ceremonies. Red can also be used to indicate danger. The meaning of these things can be associated differently in different cultures. For example, in China the colour red represents prosperity and happiness.

ORANGE - Vibrance, energy. Can be associated to earthy colours and the season Autumn. Orange can represent movement and change as well as creativity. In comparison to red, orange is seen as more friendly and inviting. Orange is a good tone to incorporate into the background of Anima Mundi - the background of the game is the largest part as it looks over the player and acts as the foundation of the environment. Anima Mundi could be considered a 'safe-place' and a method of escapism, therefore using orange tones would be ideal.

YELLOW - Bright, energetic and is associated with hope. Bright yellow can "lend a sense of happiness and cheerfulness in your designs". Lighter yellows depict a calmer feeling of happiness and are more appealing to the eye.

COOL COLOURS

Cool tones include green, blues and purples. They are often associated to colours of the night, water and nature. Additionally they are usually calming, relaxing and "somewhat reserved".

GREEN - "Down-to-earth". Greens can represent new beginnings and growth. Although green is sometimes used to symbolise envy or jealousy. Similar to blue, green has a calming attribute and can also have a "balancing and harmonising effect". Particular shades of green such as olive greens are representative of the natural world which is perfect for Anima Mundi. As the game world is essentially an air region, it must consist of light an airy tones to achieve this, as well as subtle greens to represent 'the natural world'.

BLUE - Sadness, calmness and responsibility. "Light blues are often refreshing and friendly whereas dark blues are more strong and reliable". The colour blue is also associated with peace and has several religious connotations. Light blues are better for the design of Anima Mundi as they are more relaxed and calming compared to darker shades of blue.

PURPLE - A combination of red and blue so takes on attributes from these two colours. Associated with creativity and imagination. Light purples are considered more romantic whereas darker shades are linked to wealth and royalty.

NEUTRALS

Neutrals are commonly combined with brighter colours but when used on their own, can create "sophisticated layouts".

BLACK - "Black is the strongest of the neutral colours". Commonly linked with power, elegance and formality. However can also be linked to evil, death and mystery. Black is better for more elegant designs and is often used for typography purposes.

WHITE - White can work well with any other colour. Often associated with purity, cleanliness and virtue. White is linked with goodness and angels. White is most popular in minimalist designs.

REFLECTION - Colour Theory & Anima Mundi

Reflecting upon my research, it's clear to me which colours would work best for the environment and asset design for Anima Mundi. A mixture of greens, oranges, reds and blues would be ideal. This is because firstly, green represents new beginnings and growth as well as the natural world - representing the journey of the Shaman and reflecting this visually. As well as this, blue tones can be used to represent calmness within the environment and to help players feel at ease during gameplay. Red and orange tones will work together to represent energy and passion. Orange is a friendly colour and will make players feel comfortable in their virtual environment - it's important for players to feel comfortable while playing Anima Mundi both in and out of the game. They must not feel pressured or intimidated at any stage. The use of warm colours are especially important to represent positivity while the player is challenged by a series of puzzles that may eventually frustrate them, but players are to be reminded that they are on a journey of self-discovery, and sometimes even failure is a part of that.

Now I have an ideal colour scheme, it's only right to ensure these colours work together! In my art bible I will find a suitable colour palette for Anima Mundi using the Japanese theme as inspiration however, I will be researching into 'Harmonising' colour schemes to identify a palette that works well together and satisfies players.

"Colour Theory: Colour Harmonies"

RESEARCH LINK: https://blog.thepapermillstore.com/color-theory-color-harmonies/

"The colour wheel is the most valuable tool in your design tool kit"

Complementary

Complementary colours are located opposite each other on the colour wheel:

WHAT DO THEY DO? These opposing colours create 'high contrast' which makes colour harmony hard to implement. Large doses of contrasting colours can become overwhelming to the eye and can draw the attention away from your focal point. Complementary colours are often used to express boldness or draw attention to a specific point.

Analogous

Analogous colours are those located next to each other on the colour wheel:

WHAT DO THEY DO? This combination of colours represent calm and are "often found in nature". It's recommended to only use warm or cool colours to "avoid complicating harmony". Additionally, use tints and shades for more visual interest.

WHEN TO USE THESE COLOURS?

"You are seeking a calm and unified look that won't distract from your primary message"

"To complement natural subject matter or create a connection with nature" - Perfect.

Triadic

Triadic colour harmonies help to keep design balanced. These are three colours spaced evenly around the colour wheel:

WHAT DO THEY DO? These colours are often vibrant but can be overwhelming. To maintain a balanced design, one colour should dominate the rest. Often best using one dark colour and two paler shades. "Tints and shades can help create a sense of calm and tranquility" - this is perfect for Anima Mundi.

WHEN TO USE THESE COLOURS?

"To grab the viewer's attention without creating tension" - would be useful during stages of puzzle interactions. This can be a way to alert players of an incoming puzzle or obstacle.

"For bright designs that employ full chroma colours".

Monochromatic

Monochromatic harmonies use shades of a single colour:

WHAT DO THEY DO? Monochromatic palettes create simple and clean aesthetics. "Offers the greatest sense of unity and is the easiest to create with the least room for error".

WHEN TO USE THESE COLOURS?

"To create a calm and serene design".

REFLECTION - Harmonising Colours

The design of Anima Mundi should consist of the following:

• Warm colours - orange and red tones. Friendly and welcoming colours to ensure players feel comfortable during gameplay.

• Light blue tones to represent calm and help players feel at ease

• Light green tones to represent the natural world. Light blues and greens to represent earth tones and reflect the feel of the 'air region' - light and airy.

• Analogous harmonies - depict calm and often found in nature. To represent a calm and 'unified' look, but to not distract players from gameplay.

• Triadic harmonies - to keep the design balanced. These colours can grab the attention of the player without creating tension. Would be good to use these around the puzzle interactions to alert players of their presence.

• Monochromatic harmonies - to not overwhelm players but to keep design fairly simple yet effective. Monochrome colours also 'create a calm and serene design'.

EVALUATION

My reasoning for this design choice is based on the soul purpose of Anima Mundi. In order to reflect a sense of calm, peace and tranquility in-game, the best way to do this is visually. As we are focusing on the beauty of the environment, it's important to get the colour palette spot on and my research into the colour theory has been especially helpful in doing so. The design of Anima Mundi must visually appeal to players and each asset must be intentionally placed. We intend for players to become captivated by their surroundings and recognise our extreme attention to detail.

Using harmonising colours will not only satisfy players but will have a positive effect on the way they feel and the overall mood of the game. It's essential for players to feel at ease and a sense of relaxation during Anima Mundi, therefore I have chosen the colour palette in accordance with this. Visuals play a massive part in achieving this in game as well as other major components such as sound.

NEXT STEPS

Next I will apply my knowledge to the Art Bible. I will be providing artists with a specific colour palette using my colour theory research as well as inspiration from mood-boards and Josh's original GDD. Within the art bible I will be summarising my design choices in order for the team to understand the reasoning for my choices and give them clear guidance in how to achieve this during asset creation.