Relationships

Triadic colors

Colors positioned on the color wheel along an equilateral triangle. One of Johannes Itten's "harmonious chords": geometric points demonstrating color "notes" as a basis for composition.

Color wheel with orange, yellow-green, and red circles displayed in close proximity

How it affects UI design

Triadic colors provide a wide range of differentiation of color in a UI color palette for creating a strong visual impact.

A triadic palette may be prone to color conflicts for people who have a color vision deficiency.

Hue is treated differently between color spaces, which can affect which colors are considered to be triadic.

Sources:

  1. Linda Holtzschue (2017). Understanding color: an introduction for designers. 5th edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Pages 140, 141
  2. Mary Stewart (2006). Launching the imagination: a comprehensive guide to basic design. 2nd edition. McGraw-Hill. Pages 64