UI/UX Design Color Theory CRASH COURSE | Color Theory For Beginners | Saptarshi Prakash
In this video, I break down 8 color theory laws every UI/UX design, UX design, and graphic design beginner needs to know, and every working designer should revisit.
Color isn't decoration, it's the first thing your brain judges before it even reads a headline, and most people are doing it completely wrong.
I used to pick colors by vibe too, until I learned there's real psychology behind why some palettes feel intentional and others feel like a scam.
We'll get into the science of first impressions, why certain color combos quietly fight your users, how dark mode breaks all your old rules, and the one mistake almost every AI-generated interface makes right now, so keep watching till the end!
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Rule 1 + Intro
02:36 Color Theory Basics
11:04 Rule 2
12:27 Rule 3
14:07 Rule 4
16:44 Rule 5
18:26 Rule 6
20:18 Rule 7
22:27 Rule 8
24:54 Conclusion
25:51 Outro
Resources:
🎨 Color Palette & Exploration Tools
Coolors:
https://coolors.co/
Adobe Color, color wheel–based harmony generator:
https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel
✅ Contrast & Accessibility Checkers
WebAIM Contrast Checker: https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/
Stark: https://www.getstark.co/
🧠 Psychology & Perception Principles
Aesthetic-Usability Effect:
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/aesthetic-usability-effect/
Hick's Law:
https://www.nngroup.com/videos/hicks-law-long-menus/
Stroop Effect:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroop_effect
Simultaneous Contrast:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simultaneous_contrast
Von Restorff Effect (Isolation Effect):
https://lawsofux.com/von-restorff-effect/
Helmholtz–Kohlrausch Effect:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmholtz%E2%80%93Kohlrausch_effect
Gestalt Principles:
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/gestalt-principles
📐 Color Theory Fundamentals
Color Wheel history & Isaac Newton's original color circle:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_wheel
HSB vs. HSL vs. RGB vs. Hex:
https://medium.com/innovaccer-design/rgb-vs-hsb-vs-hsl-demystified-1992d7273d3a
🏢 Real-World Design Systems:
Stripe Design: https://stripe.com/blog/design
Linear: https://linear.app
Notion: https://www.notion.com
Share your thoughts in the comments below! 📩
Join my community: https://nas.io/sapta
Join my Instagram broadcast channel to never miss an update: https://ig.me/j/AbadG67M--mvwepf/
Get on a call with me: https://topmate.io/sapta
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/saptarshipr
-----------------------------------------------
😃 ABOUT ME
This is Saptarshi (a.k.a. Sapta), an engineer turned self-taught Product Designer based out of Bangalore, India. I have worked with some of the very well known startups of India and learned anything and everything that is needed to create amazing experiences for the users. I'm also an active speaker, teacher and community builder, and have delivered over 60 talks, workshops and webinars on design. In this channel, I post videos with tips, strategies, tutorials and general gyaan to scale your career in Design. If you are into it, you may want to subscribe and hit the bell icon to that you don't miss out :)
-----------------------------------------------
📲 SOCIALS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saptarshiux/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/saptarshipr
Dribbble: https://dribbble.com/saptarshipr
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saptarshipr/
Medium: https://medium.com/@saptarshipr
-----------------------------------------------
💻 📷 🎤 MY GEAR
My Desk: https://bengaluru.featherlitestore.com/product/motorized-height-adjustable-table/
Sony A7iv: https://amzn.to/3KQZ0LM (Primary camera)
Samyang 24-70mm F2.8 lens: https://amzn.to/3qDYHx0
Sony a6300: https://amzn.to/3gIx0v1 (Secondary Camera)
Sigma 16mm F1.4 lens: https://amzn.to/38DFPRR
Sony 50mm F1.8 lens: https://amzn.to/3rufcaB
Samson G-Track Pro condenser mic: https://amzn.to/37Rixsw
Rode Wireless Go 2 : https://amzn.to/3KQXBU0
Boya Lavalier Mic: https://amzn.to/2M0MZI7
Godox SL60w light : https://amzn.to/3HgSU3O
Godox SB-UE 80cm softbox : https://amzn.to/3GdNq8h
DIGITEK DTR 500 BH (60 Inch) Tripod: https://amzn.to/39d1m48
-----------------------------------------------
🎶 MUSIC
The jingles and the background score is composed by Sargam Prakash, an awesome designer and musician. Do check out his channel.
Sargam Prakash: https://www.youtube.com/user/sargampr
-----------------------------------------------
🌟 TAGS
graphic design,color theory,color theory graphic design,color theory for beginners,ui design,ux design,ui ux laws,gestalt principles,ui ux design,graphic design for beginners,graphic design color theory,ui ux color theory,color psychology in graphic design,color wheel tutorial,color palette,website design,ai ui design,product design,become a graphic designer,ui ux roadmap,design principles,laws of ux,graphic design principles,color harmony
-----------------------------------------------
🌟 HASHTAGS
#uiux #graphicdesign #design
Color isn't decoration, it's the first thing your brain judges before it even reads a headline, and most people are doing it completely wrong.
I used to pick colors by vibe too, until I learned there's real psychology behind why some palettes feel intentional and others feel like a scam.
We'll get into the science of first impressions, why certain color combos quietly fight your users, how dark mode breaks all your old rules, and the one mistake almost every AI-generated interface makes right now, so keep watching till the end!
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Rule 1 + Intro
02:36 Color Theory Basics
11:04 Rule 2
12:27 Rule 3
14:07 Rule 4
16:44 Rule 5
18:26 Rule 6
20:18 Rule 7
22:27 Rule 8
24:54 Conclusion
25:51 Outro
Resources:
🎨 Color Palette & Exploration Tools
Coolors:
https://coolors.co/
Adobe Color, color wheel–based harmony generator:
https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel
✅ Contrast & Accessibility Checkers
WebAIM Contrast Checker: https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/
Stark: https://www.getstark.co/
🧠 Psychology & Perception Principles
Aesthetic-Usability Effect:
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/aesthetic-usability-effect/
Hick's Law:
https://www.nngroup.com/videos/hicks-law-long-menus/
Stroop Effect:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroop_effect
Simultaneous Contrast:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simultaneous_contrast
Von Restorff Effect (Isolation Effect):
https://lawsofux.com/von-restorff-effect/
Helmholtz–Kohlrausch Effect:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmholtz%E2%80%93Kohlrausch_effect
Gestalt Principles:
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/gestalt-principles
📐 Color Theory Fundamentals
Color Wheel history & Isaac Newton's original color circle:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_wheel
HSB vs. HSL vs. RGB vs. Hex:
https://medium.com/innovaccer-design/rgb-vs-hsb-vs-hsl-demystified-1992d7273d3a
🏢 Real-World Design Systems:
Stripe Design: https://stripe.com/blog/design
Linear: https://linear.app
Notion: https://www.notion.com
Share your thoughts in the comments below! 📩
Join my community: https://nas.io/sapta
Join my Instagram broadcast channel to never miss an update: https://ig.me/j/AbadG67M--mvwepf/
Get on a call with me: https://topmate.io/sapta
Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/saptarshipr
-----------------------------------------------
😃 ABOUT ME
This is Saptarshi (a.k.a. Sapta), an engineer turned self-taught Product Designer based out of Bangalore, India. I have worked with some of the very well known startups of India and learned anything and everything that is needed to create amazing experiences for the users. I'm also an active speaker, teacher and community builder, and have delivered over 60 talks, workshops and webinars on design. In this channel, I post videos with tips, strategies, tutorials and general gyaan to scale your career in Design. If you are into it, you may want to subscribe and hit the bell icon to that you don't miss out :)
-----------------------------------------------
📲 SOCIALS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saptarshiux/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/saptarshipr
Dribbble: https://dribbble.com/saptarshipr
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saptarshipr/
Medium: https://medium.com/@saptarshipr
-----------------------------------------------
💻 📷 🎤 MY GEAR
My Desk: https://bengaluru.featherlitestore.com/product/motorized-height-adjustable-table/
Sony A7iv: https://amzn.to/3KQZ0LM (Primary camera)
Samyang 24-70mm F2.8 lens: https://amzn.to/3qDYHx0
Sony a6300: https://amzn.to/3gIx0v1 (Secondary Camera)
Sigma 16mm F1.4 lens: https://amzn.to/38DFPRR
Sony 50mm F1.8 lens: https://amzn.to/3rufcaB
Samson G-Track Pro condenser mic: https://amzn.to/37Rixsw
Rode Wireless Go 2 : https://amzn.to/3KQXBU0
Boya Lavalier Mic: https://amzn.to/2M0MZI7
Godox SL60w light : https://amzn.to/3HgSU3O
Godox SB-UE 80cm softbox : https://amzn.to/3GdNq8h
DIGITEK DTR 500 BH (60 Inch) Tripod: https://amzn.to/39d1m48
-----------------------------------------------
🎶 MUSIC
The jingles and the background score is composed by Sargam Prakash, an awesome designer and musician. Do check out his channel.
Sargam Prakash: https://www.youtube.com/user/sargampr
-----------------------------------------------
🌟 TAGS
graphic design,color theory,color theory graphic design,color theory for beginners,ui design,ux design,ui ux laws,gestalt principles,ui ux design,graphic design for beginners,graphic design color theory,ui ux color theory,color psychology in graphic design,color wheel tutorial,color palette,website design,ai ui design,product design,become a graphic designer,ui ux roadmap,design principles,laws of ux,graphic design principles,color harmony
-----------------------------------------------
🌟 HASHTAGS
#uiux #graphicdesign #design