It's All There in Black and White
Truth: Black and white is a timeless duo. If there’s anything that all creative agencies can agree on, it’s the fact that black and white is versatile and effective. Nothing conveys sophistication better than black and white patterns. Why? Because sophistication often lies in simplicity. The black and white color scheme has stood the test of time for use in everything from movie styles to decorative pillows. Predictably, we continue to associate the two colors with good taste.
When it comes to keeping things minimal, yet appealing, black and white contrast each other so well that this combination is revered in almost every division of art— from painting, graphic design, illustration and sculpture to photography, architecture, theater and fashion, black and white themes create memorable experiences for the audiences that view them.
In graphic design, the black and white color combination is most often used when there is text or imagery that needs to be the focal point of the design. White text on a black background is a great example. Black backgrounds imply power, and with white text, the design becomes modern, confident, and noticeable. While opposite in value, these two can be vital elements to use in marketing materials and campaigns.
Black and white design is striking enough alone, but when used in conjunction with other design strategies, its flexibility goes even further. Adding just one additional color to the scheme leads to powerful messaging and adds visual punch. This is a great strategy for drawing attention to a specific object or creating a visual explosion.
When you have a need for high impact, consider a black and white design scheme. Using the visual balance of a black and white color scheme is by no means playing it safe, but in the end, these two divergent colors communicate more powerfully together than they do on their own.