TP
About
Principal in Strategic Design & Abstraction
Consulting Service
Navigating the Leap in Product Management
AI-Era Value:
Unrivaled Expertise
Business / UIUX
Dieter Rams
10(→3+2) Principles for Good Design
Theory
A Professional Perspective: the Golden Ratio
UI Design
Four essntial steps of Micro Interactions
Behavioral Economics
Utility:The Psychological Wallet and the Complexity of Product Growth
PdM / CPO
Navigating the Core: The Evolution of a Product Designer
UX Framework
The Pros and Cons of User Interviews
Art
Marcel Duchamp
Marcel Duchamp And Modern Art
Donald Judd
Minimalism and Abstraction
Storm Thorgerson
Intentional Ambiguity
Product
King Sun & Pipistrello
An Elegant Table Lamp
Danish Minimalism
Futuristic design that remains timeless.
PH 4/3 lamp
Object's presence and its harmony with the space.
YellowColor TheoryCommanding Yellow: Balance and Relativity
Color Scheme - 2025 -
Yellow is a highly creative and idealistic color that embodies pure, unadulterated cheerfulness. It also evokes a sense of healthy spirituality—reflecting the anticipation of greater happiness and the vibrant energy of a child.
Wavelength Range
| Color | Wavelength |
|---|---|
| Purple | 380–450 nm |
| Blue | 450–495 nm |
| Green | 495–570 nm |
| Yellow | 570–590 nm |
| Orange | 590–620 nm |
| Red | 620–750 nm |
The energy of yellow is intense, as indicated by keywords like communication, enlightenment, sunlight, and spirituality—yet it remains free of malice or intimidation. It is fascinating how it creates such a distinct impression from orange, despite their close proximity in the color spectrum.
The Psychological Attributes of Yellow
| Positive | Emotional, Active, Vitality, Honor, Joy, Optimism, Confidence, Extroversion |
|---|---|
| Negative | Irrationality, Jealousy, Frustration, Mental fragility, Cowardice |
While yellow may seem to offer only benefits, it also possesses a negative side. Perhaps due to its inherent simplicity, it can sometimes evoke a sense of irrationality or lack of reason.
Yellow in Masterpieces: The Case of Paul Cézanne
Apples and Biscuits - 1880 -
In this work by the Impressionist master Paul Cézanne, the pure, straightforward power emanating from the yellow apples serves as a fundamental element of the composition. Observe the subtle differences in energy radiated by each color—the orange, the red, and the yellow.
On the biscuit plate, Cézanne uses colors that correspond to the complements of yellow and orange, creating both accent and harmony. It is not just the titular elements; the choice of colors and the overall brushwork across the table and background are exquisite. Much like a cadence in music, one feels as though there is a definitive "answer" to where each color should be placed.
Yellow in Masterpieces: The Case of Degas
Laundress Carrying Linen - 1876 -
In this work by Degas, the yellow that dominates much of the canvas expresses activity and joy, while its slightly muted saturation seems to convey the very body heat of the working woman. It is a masterpiece characteristic of Degas, who pursued compositional beauty more intensely than anyone else.
Appendix: AI-Generated Art Featuring Yellow
When crafting prompts for AI, it is effective to keep in mind the pure, straightforward functionality inherent in the color yellow. A great theme for everyday scenery might be the golden brilliance of ginkgo trees. Alternatively, as seen in Degas’s work, you could focus on capturing human warmth (activity) and spirituality.
AI-Generated ArtWork - Prompted by
AI-Generated ArtWork - Prompted by
AI-Generated ArtWork - Prompted by
Summary
Considering the unique power of yellow—much like its complement, purple—it is often unsuitable for functional elements like web buttons. Despite its simplicity, its impact is so immense that the opportunities to use it effectively are rare (or rather, exceptionally difficult). Therefore, it may be best to view yellow as a color that truly comes to life when harmonized with others, such as through a triad color scheme.
By balancing it with the stability of green or the duality of orange, we should strive to cultivate a sensibility that pursues functional beauty while embracing a broad range of expression.
