1. Using colour to elevate
your data visualisation designs.
By Shreya Arya

2. Shreya Arya
About me
@datavizfairy
arya.shreya
Tableau / Alteryx Consultant
The Information Lab
Data School UK Consultant
(DS39)
P1 - Lloyds Banking Group
BI Adoption Team
x3 Viz of the Day
Tableau Public
Tableau Public Featured
Author
June 2023

3. Why is colour important?
• Humans are visual creatures
• Connected emotions and experiences
• Easily pick out key metrics
• Engaging and Impactful
• Increase appeal / usage of dashboards

4. Colour
Psychology
Basic
Colour Theory UI Tip 1
UI Tip 2
Colour Palette
Inspiration
What I will be covering

5. Topic 1
Colour Theory

6. Colour Theory
How different colours interact with each other

7. Colour Theory
How different colours interact with each other
A B C
1. COLOUR RELATIVITY
All the same colour:

8. Colour Theory
How different colours interact with each other
A B C
1. COLOUR RELATIVITY
Different Colours:

9. 1. COLOUR RELATIVITY
2. ANALOGOUS COLOURS
Colours next to each other in the colour wheel
harmonious
visually-appealing
pleasant

10. 1. COLOUR RELATIVITY
3. COMPLEMENTARY COLOURS
Colours opposite each other in the colour wheel
striking
attention-grabbing
high-contrast

11. Topic 2
Colour Psychology

12. Colour Psychology

13. Red
Danger
Passion
Anger
Romance
Energy
Creativity
Fire
Warmth
Orange Yellow
Joy
Happiness
Optimism
Success
Green
Nature
Health
Money
Well-being
Subconscious associations

14. Red
Danger
Passion
Anger
Romance
Energy
Creativity
Fire
Warmth
Orange Yellow
Joy
Happiness
Optimism
Success
Nature
Health
Money
Well-being
Subconscious associations
Green

15. Red
Danger
Passion
Anger
Romance
Energy
Creativity
Fire
Warmth
Orange Yellow
Joy
Happiness
Optimism
Nature
Health
Money
Well-being
Green

16. Red
Danger
Passion
Anger
Romance
Energy
Creativity
Fire
Orange Yellow
Joy
Happiness
Optimism
Positivity
Nature
Health
Money
Well-being
Green

17. Red
Danger
Passion
Anger
Romance
Red
Luck
Fortune
Success
Red
Beauty
Associations vary between cultures…

18. Information is Beautiful – Colours in Culture

19. Topic 3
UI Colour Tips

20. 1. Eye strain
Avoid using Pure Black (#00000) and Pure White (#fffff) together
Effective communication, both internally and
with clients, remains a cornerstone of any
thriving enterprise. The seamless integration
of design elements, such as typography,
plays a crucial role in conveying brand
identity and enhancing user experience.
Effective communication, both internally and
with clients, remains a cornerstone of any
thriving enterprise. The seamless integration
of design elements, such as typography,
plays a crucial role in conveying brand
identity and enhancing user experience.

21. Accessibility
TIP 1: Avoid using Pure Black (#00000) and Pure White (#fffff) together
Effective communication, both internally and with clients,
remains a cornerstone of any thriving enterprise. The
seamless integration of design elements, such as
typography, plays a crucial role in conveying brand identity
and enhancing user experience.
Effective communication, both internally and with clients,
remains a cornerstone of any thriving enterprise. The
seamless integration of design elements, such as
typography, plays a crucial role in conveying brand identity
and enhancing user experience.

22. Accessibility
TIP 1: Avoid using Pure Black (#00000) and Pure White (#fffff) together
Effective communication, both internally and with clients,
remains a cornerstone of any thriving enterprise. The
seamless integration of design elements, such as
typography, plays a crucial role in conveying brand identity
and enhancing user experience.
Effective communication, both internally and with clients,
remains a cornerstone of any thriving enterprise. The
seamless integration of design elements, such as
typography, plays a crucial role in conveying brand identity
and enhancing user experience.

23. 1. Eye strain
Avoid using Pure Black (#00000) and Pure White (#fffff) together
Effective communication, both internally and
with clients, remains a cornerstone of any
thriving enterprise. The seamless integration
of design elements, such as typography,
plays a crucial role in conveying brand
identity and enhancing user experience.
Effective communication, both internally and
with clients, remains a cornerstone of any
thriving enterprise. The seamless integration
of design elements, such as typography,
plays a crucial role in conveying brand
identity and enhancing user experience.
Deviate ever so slightly from
pure black / pure white!

24. 2. Design
The 60:30:10 palette
Colour 1
60%
Main Colour
Colour 2
30%
Secondary Colour
Colour 3
10%
Accent Colour

25. 2. Design
The 60-30-10 rule

26. 2. Design
The 60-30-10 rule
Use the most impactful colour as your
accent!
30%
60% 10%

27. Topic 4
Colour Palette Inspiration

28. Coolors

29. Pinterest

30. Thank you for listening :)
Any questions?
Shreya Arya
@datavizfairy
arya.shreya
Tableau / Alteryx Consultant