Darker cells mean a higher score for this topic on that metric.
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Quick answers
When should I pick Color systems?
When the story is: legends, brand systems, accessible data color.
When should I avoid Color systems?
Skip it in cases like: rainbow defaults, or encoding two quantities in one hue.
Who invented or popularised it?
Munsell 1905; Brewer palettes (1994–) for maps; OKLCH in modern CSS
What does it encode?
hue, value and chroma mapped to category or magnitude
Is it OK in ads?
Yes if one claim is visible at a glance in Meta, Google and retail print; otherwise link to a full figure.
Will a teacher accept it?
Yes for lab reports and poster boards if axes, units and a source line are present.
Color systems encodes values as hue, value and chroma mapped to category or magnitude. Munsell 1905; Brewer palettes (1994–) for maps; OKLCH in modern CSS.
In reports, ads and assignments it fits legends, brand systems, accessible data color. Skip it when rainbow defaults, or encoding two quantities in one hue.
Make shapes, diagrams and charts in the browser. Download SVG or PNG — nothing is uploaded.
Work
- Work 1 — PowerPoint weekly: Color systems for legends, brand systems, accessible data color.
- Work 2 — One Color systems on a quarterly bridge or KPI tile — not four.
- Work 3 — Build in Excel or Google Sheets, export SVG/PDF rather than a screenshot.
Ads
- Ads 1 — Meta, Google and retail print: one number, one shape, one arrow.
- Ads 2 — Keep callouts inside safe zones. No type in cropped corners.
- Ads 3 — If Color systems will not fit a banner, keep the number and show the chart on the landing page.
School
- School 1 — lab reports and poster boards: does Color systems answer the rubric?
- School 2 — Axis names, units, a source line. Markers read them.
- School 3 — Start with a mind map if you must; submit a figure that reads like Color systems.
Steps
- Steps 1 — Write the claim in one sentence.
- Steps 2 — Check that Color systems fits the claim. If not, switch.rainbow defaults, or encoding two quantities in one hue
- Steps 3 — Draw it flat in Excel or Google Sheets or PowerPoint.
- Steps 4 — Direct labels, faint grid, claim-title.
- Steps 5 — Check greyscale and a color-blind simulator.
- Steps 6 — Add source, period, units; export SVG/PDF.
Color systems: honour hue, value and chroma mapped to category or magnitude, and switch when rainbow defaults, or encoding two quantities in one hue.