The Art and Science of Color
Welcome to the May 2023 edition of the Improved Insights Newsletter: a newsletter for folks in informal STEM learning spaces who want to learn more about how to measure and communicate the impacts of their work.
I’m Sarah M. Dunifon - a long-time STEM educator, evaluator, and equity advocate. After spending time working in museums, nonprofits, and higher education, I now work on cutting-edge informal STEM learning research and evaluation with my team at Improved Insights. We specialize in informal STEM learning and youth programs.
This monthly newsletter includes tips, resources, and news on informal STEM learning evaluation. We hope you find it valuable! Now, let’s get started —
The Art and Science of Color
Have you ever completed a project that you were super excited about? You put together the data - charts, graphs, statistics - all the things that will show exactly what you found out and why it’s important. You prepare your presentation, assured that what you’ve compiled will evoke an enthusiastic response from your audience! Instead, you’re met with blank stares, confusion, or even worse - boredom. What went wrong?
In this month's newsletter, we'll begin to explore the importance and impact of color within the ISE space. To read the full article, check it out in our Insights. In the meantime, here’s a taste:
Are you a visual learner? According to principles in learning sciences and data visualization, people can retain and process information better when it is effectively communicated visually. As an evaluator who often provides detailed written reports to my clients, I am always thinking about how to best present the data that I have collected in a way that is easily digestible and clearly communicates key messages.
One major component in creating an effective report, graph, or other visual aid is color. The use of color can be a powerful way to convey ideas and connect with your audiences.
This month, we will explore the profound effect that color can have on the way that information is processed and received. To do this, we will explore five key areas where color use is important:
Using color to evoke emotions and influence perception
Creating a consistent brand
Calling attention to important information
Easing the readers’ cognitive load
Maximizing human memory performance
First, let’s explore a basic principle of color psychology. We know both explicitly and implicitly that colors have the ability to evoke emotions and influence the way we perceive information. To demonstrate this, let’s conduct a little experiment:
Imagine the color green. What did you think of? A leaf? Your backyard? Maybe a green bell pepper? In color psychology, green is a calming color that often makes us think of the environment.
Now, picture the colors red and yellow. What did you imagine? Maybe ketchup and mustard? Or perhaps the fast food chain McDonald's? Together, red and yellow can communicate a sense of urgency or speed, perhaps encouraging customers of the iconic fast food chain to eat more quickly to free up a table for the next patron.
ii Updates
Founder and Principal Evaluator Sarah Dunifon traveled to Jacksonville, Florida this month to attend the annual STEM Learning Ecosystems Community of Practice Convening. The gathering of more than 600 ecosystem leaders from all over the U.S. and the world offered inspiring conversations and presentations. Along with conversations discussing emerging technologies, the continued urgency of STEM equity and access, the STEM teacher shortage, invention education, and more, I was heartened to see the importance placed on informal and out-of-school-time learning.
60-Second Suggestions
Here are a few of my favorite things this month, usually pertaining to informal STEM education and evaluation, but occasionally some fun personal stuff, too.
This collection of resources from the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), supported by key research from the University of Florida, examines how to make climate change education impactful.
Microsoft Designer is a free AI program that I’ve been playing with this month. This tool can create stunning designs and original images just by typing what you want. It can even propose captions and hashtags to make social media sharing effortless.
This article from the American Alliance of Museums outlines three trauma-informed practices that museums can embed into their culture, and what might be gained by integrating these practices.
The above feature on color usage is just the first in a two-part series that we’ll be publishing on our Insights page. Follow along next month for some practical tips on using color to maximize your organization’s reporting and communications.
In the meantime, pay attention to the color you encounter in your day-to-day experiences. What feels right, and what feels out of place? What inspires, and what elicits a yawn? Run your own color psychology experiments (maybe change up the color of the plates you serve dinner on, and see how your family responds), and see what conclusions you draw.
Until next time - thanks!