Undergraduate Research

The Relationship Between College Students and Color Psychology

This research was my honors project for the course Fundamentals of Graphic Design, mentored by Rachel Urbanowicz. Color psychology explores how different colors influence human emotions, cognition, and behavior. This study focused on its’ implications for students at Keystone College. By analyzing how different colors affect students’ emotions, focus, and productivity, this research aimed to challenge Pantone’s Color of the Year marketing claims.

To get a deeper understanding of what colors are most compelling to Keystone College students, I created questions that align with the marketing claims and psychological meanings of Pantone’s Color of the Year color codes. I gathered images that represent a situational question, and a random sample of 71 college students on campus during various class times. When presenting, I showed students a PowerPoint document that featured questions and two images that follow the student surveys. On the slides, one image would feature an overlay of the Pantone color, and the other image had an overlay with the complementary color. Students were able to choose which color they best thought suited specific situations. For example, the question “Which room would be a better place to complete a creative project?”, used an image of a creative desk, and overlays of Very Peri and its’ opposite color, Yellow.

After analyzing the survey results, Keystone College students prefer cool colors, such as greens, blues, and purples, opposed to warmer colors, such as reds, oranges, and yellows.

I am a Digital Media major, and what I love most about the program is the tight knit group of creative students and being able to intertwine my creative aspirations with professionality. I chose Digital Media because technology is ever changing, allowing me to delve into a variety of programs and mediums, while putting creative expression, thought, and influence into technological advances. Some opportunities that I’ve had as a Digital Media major are working as a Promotions Assistant at a local radio station where I use my graphic design skills for professionalism and illustrating a children’s book!

Chemistry and Forensic Biology major, Katie Gogolen, won the 2022 Excellence in Forensic Biology and Excellence in Research awards and is also an Honors Scholar program graduate.

For an honors project, I synthesized pigments in the lab and used them to make oil paints. I made Prussian Blue Paint by mixing together iron (ii) sulfate and potassium ferrocyanide solutions. I dried the pigment, ground it down to a fine powder, and mixed it with linseed oil. I made white paint by adding titanium oxide with linseed oil. I gessoed a canvas and used the paints I made to follow a Bob Ross tutorial called Northern Lights.

I like the Chemistry Department at Keystone because it provides opportunities to take classes studying a wide variety of chemistries, my favorite being Forensic Chemistry because I am also a Forensic Biology major. Studying chemistry broadens horizons and opens up many job opportunities.