Maxwell Week 7

My first example of color is the ever so popular Trix cereal. General Mills knew what they were doing in designing the box with such bright bold colors. This box is very attractive not only to little kids, to whom the color design was probably targeted, but to everyone. It is easily recognized over other cereals with less dramatic color schemes on the front of the box; and more importantly it's easily differentiated from other cereals.

No Mom, I didn't come to college to blog about Trix.

I chose Trix because I felt it was a perfect example of bold color use because when I was thinking of an example that I could use for this assignment it was the first thing to come to mind. I don't eat Trix anymore and yet these colors are so striking I still remember them even though I don't buy this cereal anymore. So, kudos to General Mills package design team.











My second example of color use is the cover of the book "The Unbearable Lightness of Being". This is actually my favorite book and I had never seen this design for the cover. The book takes place in different locations throughout Europe like Prague and Geneva. The black bowler hat plays a very important role in making connections with two of the main characters in the book which is where the genius of the color use comes into play.

The soft brownish-gold glow of the background has a very European feel, it's a brilliant shot of the cobblestone street that disappears into the distance of the photo. The fading street gives depth to the photo and the heavier feel of the brown almost indicates to the reader that there is a sense of mental adventure, some thinking to be done with this book; and rightfully so because Kundera loves to write books of ideas. The black hat is the focal point of the shot, it's solid black but the black color of the hat is not what causes it to be the focal point. There is a very subtle white glow around the hat that fades into the sky that allows the black to pop more than it would simply on the brownish-gold background. The hat seems to have almost materialized from thin air and remained hovering over the street.

There is something very intelligent and mystical that the color scheme adds to the cover of the book that the images could not accomplish alone. Having already read the book, this cover could possibly speak to me a little more than to the average onlooker. Either way the use of color is well directed to attract readers to the book; and should anyone be so curious as to read it, the content is also very well directed to keep them =)

Final thought of the blog: God bless Milan Kundera and color.