If you’ve been following along with our Color Inspiration Series you’ll notice we are doing this color palette a bit differently this time. Typically the color inspiration series starts with a project. But this time it is much more extensive than one project.
The Issue With Nude
What color do you immediately think of when you hear the term “nude”?
Based on a very unscientific poll of my audience on instagram stories – the typical response mirrors my own bias- “pale”, “light peach”, and “light tan” – you get the point.
For me, my idea of what the color nude was defined in Elementary School. This was through a combination of experiences even as a young girl – shopping for ballet tights, using bandaids that matched my completion, and even down to the flesh-toned crayon that has since been renamed. I have an ingrained reaction that nude = pale. Logically, I know that nude is not a single color. But that’s just it- shifting from my initial reaction that nude = pale takes additional thought and attention.
My Commitment
I am committed to applying that additional thought and attention to detail to acknowledge and interrogate biases in graphic design. And I am certainly committed to working hard to ensure those biases within our industry are not reflected in my own portfolio.
The Color Palette
How can you use these colors?
Color Picker
Many creative programs (Adobe Suite, Procreate, etc) have a color picker or color grab tool. Download the image above and use the tool to snag these exact colors in your own project.
Hex Codes for Color Palette
Alternatively, the hex codes for each of these colors are listed below so you can quickly copy and paste.
#E1C5B6
#A06957
#6D3D34
#4A3222
Action Items for Your Own Designs
A few action items for myself, fellow designers + DIY creators:
- For websites, moodboards, social media posts- use stock images that feature a range of skin tones. [pro-tip: @colorjoystock just launched and already has a wonderful collection of lifestyle + work images]
- Sourcing images, graphics + illustrations – click past the first, second …. the eighteenth page of search results to find more diverse images to use in your work
- Creating graphics + illustrations – reach for a variety of paint, markers, and pens to create images that are more representative
- Editing graphics + illustrations – let’s face it until No. 3 is more prevalent – diversifying with the existing images is going to be a challenge. Get creative and put your Adobe Illustrator skills to use and edit purchased clipart. (See the hex codes above for a starting place)
- Styled shoots- widen your network to be sure to include BIPOC when pulling together the talent pool to feature during your events
Let me know in the comments below what actions you’ll be taking to help overcome your impact of biases on design.
