170: Thou shall not use beige to attract attention

Commentary Attracting attention requires volume. This is true audibly. When you want a friend across the street to see you, you shout, “Hey, Dick! Over here.” This is true physically. Slamming a freshman against a locker will get their attention. And it is true visually. Stop signs are red and have large type. Beige is not loud. Beige, gray, and tan may be sophisticated and classic, but they are not good when competing for attention. Beige is like a silent killer. It will slowly creep into a project. The image may feel too bright, so it is desaturated. The type color seems too bold, so it is softened. The final result is an overall beige tone. Online as a website it is beige-green on some monitors and looks boring. As a poster it hangs unnoticed by passers-by. Do not fear color; do not retreat to the safe, quiet, and deadly world of beige. SA