Today’s training can be enhanced – or disrupted, by new advances in technology such as Computer Based Training (CBT), elearning or Web Based Training (WBT), video and audio webinars, and the use of metric dashboards. In order to use technology effectively, you have to ask a few questions and understand how to use each of the technologies offered.First, you should ask if the chosen technology is appropriate to the material. Many training organizations use technology simply because it’s there and not because it works for the learning intervention at hand. You can ask yourself if participants will likely have questions about the material – and how they can be answered if there is not a live person around. For example, highly technical information with various outcomes may not be appropriate for CBT or WBT, but may be appropriate for a video webinar, where participants can see and hear an instructor. Informational pieces with electronic resources such as websites or other documents are certainly appropriate for CBT or WBT. It may seem efficient to take the human element out of training, but remember to look at the long-term effects.Second, consider the audience. What is the audience’s skill level with computers and technology? Have they had training via one of these methods before? Are they geographically diverse or are they all in one location? When you answer these questions about your audience, you’ll be able to determine which technologies will work for them. For example, if you have an “old school” audience who may not be computer savvy, you’ll want to steer away from WBT or CBT. Alternatively, you can integrate CBT with a classroom course, so that the instructor teaches and then assists participants in learning more material via a CBT program.Third, you must determine if the technology can be seamlessly integrated into the training program. If you’re teaching a live sales class and then ask the participants to go to a computer for an intervention, you’re disrupting the live flow. On the other hand, if you’re teaching a course that uses computers to simulate the work environment, a WBT or CBT program will integrate nicely into the flow. Correct integration offers learners an opportunity to change their focus and learning methods for a few moments, which probably enhances the learning experience. Webinars are useful in courses that have more than one part or are part of a greater network, such as leadership training. You may have one leadership meeting in person and then have the participants connect via video webinar to discuss their progress later on.Fourth, ask yourself if the technological intervention is reusable. If you take the time to integrate a CBT into a classroom course, participants should be able to reuse the technology as a job aid in the field. This way, they feel pressure to remember where to get information instead of feeling pressure to remember every piece of information taught in a course. What if one of your leadership participants misses the video webinar? Is this a reason to ask him or her to leave the program and start over again? Many webinar providers offer the ability to record sessions for later use – keep this in mind when you choose a provider.Now that you’ve asked these questions, think about the typical uses for the technology you have available. CBT and WBT are sometimes used for informational courses, especially those that every employee must have, such as compliance. These types of technologies are also used to teach computer skills, from Microsoft Office to company-specific computer systems. Webinars, both audio and video, can be used to teach “classroom” skills to geographically diverse audiences, as well as keep networked audiences in touch with each other either during or after class. Metric dashboards can be used in training courses that teach about the metrics – for example, your sales course may need to teach participants how to use a system to look up their own sales performance. Integrate this into the teaching of your sales process.Using technology in training does not have to be disruptive if you can answer these four questions and be aware of how your technology can be used efficiently with your audience. Take the time to determine all of this and you can turn technology into efficient and advanced training programs.

Color can be a powerful tool for website design. It can draw attention, convey emotion, inspire an atmosphere of desire, or directing conversation all these and more are accomplished through the clever and well-planned application of color. Similar to layouts and style of your words the color visitors will see on your website will determine the way they feel about it and whether or whether they’ll return.

What makes color important for Website Design

Colors can increase the visibility of your brand and can also entice visitors to your website to engage. The impression they form subconsciously about your company could be based on your website’s color scheme. So when a web design firm is first deciding to design your site, they first look at two aspects – the feelings your brand wants to create, and the cultural and philosophical contexts that it would like to be in line with. This is the initial step to choosing the right colors for the design of your website.

Color Psychology – colors trigger emotions

Psychology of color is the term used to describe the impact that color can influence a person’s feelings behaviours, feelings, and moods. Although the rules are not fixed in stone, we are drawn to certain colors because they affect our feelings. The context here is crucial. Red could mean fear and risk to certain people, but enthusiasm and passion to other people. When using colors in web design, it should blend seamlessly with aspects of the website including copy, typography, and images.

Below are some colors and the emotions they bring. While they aren’t fixed in stone, these are generalizations and can have an impact on the people who are watching. This will help you determine the color of your choice in accordance with how you would like your viewers to feel and the actions you would like them to do.

• Red Power, Love passion, danger exhilaration

• Orange: fun, warmth, comfort, freedom, playfulness

• White Peace, Clarity pure, purity, and cleanliness

• Blue: calm, confidence peace, trust and logic, as well as reliability

• Purple: luxury, sophistication, mystery, loyalty, creativity

• Pink: gentleness, sincerity, nurturing, warmth

• Green: health, nature, prosperity, abundance

• Brown nature protection, security, support

• Yellow: happiness, creativity, optimism, friendliness

• The Black: class, control power, sophistication and depression

Cultural Context

While various colors could have different meanings for individuals, colors can are also associated with cultural significance. In many Western countries, it is believed that black symbolizes mourning and death, while the same color is used in a variety of Eastern nations.

The color Red is thought to be associated with focus and pressure in Western culture, while many Eastern cultures believe it is associated with luck. It is important to consider the context when making a selection of colors. Most of the time, you’ll prefer to select the colors of your company based on the audience you want to reach. Based on the location where your market is located the colors displayed on your site could convey significant messages in different ways.

However, it’s not always the case particularly when it comes to massive and well-known brands that have images already embedded in our consciousness. The red color of Coca-Cola or KFC, for example, will typically have no negative associations anymore, considering the extent to which well-known and loved they are.

The Basics of Color Theory

Theory of Color is an established set of rules that can be helpful in understanding and creating complementary colors and combinations. These basic principles can assist you in creating a color colour scheme that is appropriate to your company’s specific requirements.

Primary Colors: They are three in total – blue, red and yellow.

Secondary Colors: These colors are created using primary color combinations like the green (yellow and blue) and orange (yellow and red) along with purple (blue plus red).

Tertiary Colors: These are colors made by mixing primary with secondary color.

Shades, Tints Tones: The colors listed above are referred to by some as “pure shades”. But, these colors can be used to create other colors. Tints are created by adding white to pure colors, which makes them less intense and lighter. Shades are created by adding a lack and making them heavier and more powerful. It is possible to use white and black in different levels to create tones using pure hues.

Contrast: Contrast is the perception of the difference between two hues when put next to each other. The greater the contrast, the more the two colours stand out from one another. This is a crucial idea since different levels of contrast can make an entirely different look to your site. A text that is colored and placed with a background that is low in contrast could cause issues with reading. Contrast may also make certain elements stand out (or even deflect attention from particular elements when used effectively) in your website and can make them stand out visually.

Color Models

When designing graphic designs, color is defined using color models. This is due to the fact that it is possible to find millions of different colors and it’s impossible to list every single one. The standards were developed to allow us to easily define colors by using numbers.

RGB Model: The model that is used when working with designs on the screen. RGB refers to Red as well as Green and Blue. The three colors are assigned a value of zero to 255, and the different combinations give us different shades. The colors are typically displayed as color codes, six-digit hexadecimal code numbers. It’s an “additive” color model.

CMYK Model: This model is utilized to print for printing purposes. It is a combination of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Black Each color is described using its proportion of these colors. It is a “subtractive” colour model.

the LAB Model: The word LAB means lightness, A channel as well as B channel. It’s a more complicated model. It includes the lightness factor, which is a range of zero to 100, an A component that is located on the red-green axis, and a B component that is located on the blue and yellow axis. This means that the color description is more akin to human perception when compared to RGB and CMYK models.

Making Color Palettes

The first color you select for your website is the primary color of your company’s branding (Red is the color of Coca Cola, for example). This is where the psychology of color is particularly useful. The color you choose is in accordance with the feelings and the personality you want to communicate. Following that, you build your color palette with the colors that complement the base color. This is the time when the color wheel is used.

Color Wheel: A color wheel can be described as an instrument that is used to illustrate the connection between different colors. It’s basically an abstract drawing that arranges different hues of color within a circle.

With the aid of a color wheel, you have are five primary types of color palettes you can make with the help of color wheel

Analogous Palette: Analogous colors are put on top of each other in the form of a color wheel. They are in low contrast against each other and work well together, giving an elegant effect.

Monochromatic Palette: The palettes are made up of one hue that is distinctive, and is complemented by elements of various colors and hues. The palette is appealing to look at. To prevent an uninteresting look it’s beneficial to add different colors, or even complimentary elements to your website.

The HTML0 Triad Palette – This palette is composed of three colors, which are evenly spaced from each other on the wheel of color. This method should be employed with care, and not only to select colours that go well with each other and blend well but also to utilize the colors in a way that doesn’t appear too cluttered and loud.

Complementary Palette: The Complementary palette is made up of colors that are on opposite sides of the spectrum of colors. This is a great way to create striking art designs that attract attention to certain parts of your site.

Split-complementary Palette: The palette is similar to complement palettes, but it has another color placed beside one of the colors that complement each other on the wheel of color. If used correctly this design can be effective in creating a natural appearance without too much sound.

Effective Tools to Inspire

Inspiration for new colors can be found everywhere from competitor websites to nature, and the beautiful outdoors. It’s also beneficial to keep abreast of the new trends in branding. Here are some helpful tools to help you get going with fresh color concepts right away.

Pinterest The website Pinterest is a wealth of color palette concepts developed by designers from all over the globe. They can be an incredible source of ideas.

Pantone: The color Pantone has been the leading company in the area of color. It is an index of color that determines the various shades of the various hues. The most recent trends in color in fashion and design generally stem from pantone.

color-scheme Creation Websites: There are many dedicated color websites for designers that can assist you in creating colors and play around with the palettes in any way you would like. This is a fantastic opportunity to try out and create new palettes for yourself. Websites such as Adobe Color Wheel, Color Collective along with Design Seeds can be great for quick ideas.

Conclusion

While color alone may not be the sole factor in website design, it does play an important role. If used properly and in a way that is appropriate, the color(s) that you use be a defining factor for your company’s image. Utilizing the tricks and tips that were mentioned earlier, you will not have any issues using colors in your web design to get the most impact.