For many people, colour has a significant place in their lives. There are psychological associations related to colour and this can vary from culture to culture. Design and advertising take advantage of this to create moods and atmosphere; doctors' surgeries are often decorated with blue or green as these are said to be calming colours.
For some people, colour is of limited importance due to colour vision deficiencies (colour blindness). It is important to be aware of how to design effectively with colour, to ensure the information is accessible to everyone.
This section will ask what is colour?; describe colour vision deficiency; explain the importance of colour contrast; investigate testing for colour accessibility; and look at tips for effective colour use.