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Colors constantly accompany us, often without us consciously noticing. In the “Color and Color Systems” module at the OfG / Online School for Design, I was able to delve deeper into this silent yet powerful language. The assignment was a few months ago and was one of the first modules of my studies—an early step on a path for which I am very grateful. To me, it is a gift to be able to learn and create, making the most of the opportunities entrusted to me.
The Assignment: Four Moods from Paper
The task was intentionally analog: cut out color snippets from magazines and create four mood boards. A small challenge was that I hardly own any magazines—so improvisation was required. This made the process exciting: to carve out clear moods with limited materials.
I chose these four emotional concepts (alternatively, the four seasons could have been an option):
- Love
- Athleticism
- Health
- Melancholy
The following images provide a glimpse into the creation process.
Another step involved scanning the collages and digitally editing them. The individual color fields needed to be neatly aligned, without crooked edges, overlaps, or small imperfections. This was entirely new for me and took significantly more time than I had anticipated. At the same time, it was a good exercise in working more precisely and becoming familiar with digital tools.
In doing so, I deliberately don’t always use the large subscription-based industry programs but prefer to work with good alternatives. For client projects, I naturally rely on common standards, but during my studies and for personal exercises, I like to try out different solutions. This broadens my perspective and keeps me flexible.
What I Learned from the Feedback
The feedback from the OfG helped me see my work from a new perspective. Overall, I was able to capture the moods well, but in some areas, I realized how much potential lies in the pure effect of color.
Love
My mood board did display various facets of the emotion, but it was embedded in a rather cool setting. Additionally, it became clear that I relied too heavily on the heart shape. This taught me how powerfully colors can communicate on their own, without any symbolism.
Athleticism
Here, an interesting tension between calmness and dynamism emerged, supported by a hinted complementary contrast. This demonstrated to me how subtly color harmonies can express movement.
Health
The harmonious gradient across many color ranges was positively highlighted. The friendly, bright palette conveyed the theme well—a great example of how colors can communicate a sense of lightness.
Melancholy
The desaturated, muted tones captured the mood well. Small color accents added movement to the image, indicating that melancholy involves not only heaviness but also depth and nuance.
My Personal Conclusion
This module taught me the importance of using color consciously and with nuance. I learned to observe more closely, to be bolder in simplifying, and to rely more on the effect of color harmonies.
I am grateful for every step of this learning process. For me, design is not just a craft but also an opportunity to give my best with the talents and opportunities entrusted to me.
Outlook
In future posts, I would like to introduce other modules: monograms, magazine cover design, and logo design. Each has its own stories and learning moments—but that’s for another time.
If you’re interested in my learning journey or projects, I welcome any exchange. Feel free to contact me anytime.