Modelling Design of Color Graphics Books Using Visual Vocabulary Based on Children’s Color Language Preferences

Abstract

Color language has important meaning for children’s picture books. Understanding children’s preferences in terms of color language will be helpful when designers model computerized picture books in order to adapt to children’s visual senses and effectively stimulate children’s interest in reading. In this study, we aimed to further explore the general characteristics of children’s preference for colors, color depth and color matching forms in picture books. For the study, 256 children between the ages of three and six were selected and divided into four groups. According to the implementation needs of the children’s color preference test, these children were asked to complete a series of tasks so that their choices in the tasks could subsequently be analyzed. The tasks included making the following choices: selecting their preferred colors from nine options (red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, black and white); selecting their preferred color brightness from three different color shades; and indicating their preferences in relation to complementary colors, matching colors and pure colors. The experimental results showed that children aged between three and six mainly favor red, blue and yellow, and colors with a high degree of brightness. As children grow older, boys tend to prefer blue, and girls tend to prefer pink, with red remaining the favorite color of both genders. As for complementary colors, matching colors and solid colors, three- to six-year-old children prefer solid colors. In conclusion, it seems that color language preferences in children between the ages of three and six are very similar, which could be of use when designing children’s picture books to match their visual vocabulary and psychological cognition.