Colour, Icons, and Symbols
Colour and icons are not decoration. They are shortcuts for meaning, and shortcuts only work if the audience can read them.
Success criteria
- I can choose a purposeful palette and explain what each colour does.
- I can check contrast so text remains readable.
- I can use a consistent icon family with clear labels.
- I can avoid relying on colour alone to carry meaning.
Colour has a job
| Job | How colour helps | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Emphasis | Makes the main claim or key number stand out. | One accent colour for the most important figure. |
| Grouping | Shows which items belong together. | Causes in one colour, solutions in another. |
| Sequence | Signals order or progress. | A gradient from light to dark across steps. |
| Mood | Sets an emotional tone. | Warm colours for urgency; cool colours for calm. |
| Contrast | Separates text from background. | Dark text on a light panel. |
| Brand or setting | Connects to a place, group, or campaign. | A local council or school palette. |
Colour meaning is contextual
There is no universal dictionary of colour. Green often signals nature in Australian environmental campaigns, but it can also mean money, safety, or a specific political position. Red can mean danger, urgency, heat, or celebration. Always test the meaning with your intended audience and explain it in your rationale.
Avoid the generic green leaf. A leaf icon says "environment" but not which issue, cause, or solution. A specific icon or a clear label does more work.
Build a palette
Use a simple ratio: one dominant colour, one supporting colour, and one accent. The 60-30-10 guideline is a starting point, not a law.
| Role | Share | Use | My choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominant | About 60% | Background or large panels | |
| Supporting | About 30% | Section blocks, icons, secondary type | |
| Accent | About 10% | Key number, action, or warning | |
| Text | As needed | High-contrast readable type |
Contrast and accessibility
- Body text should have a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1 against its background.
- Large text can use a lower ratio, but 4.5:1 is a safer target.
- Do not put text over a busy photograph. Use a solid panel or a strong overlay.
- Do not use colour alone to show meaning. Add labels, patterns, or icons.
- Check the infographic on a phone, a projector, and in greyscale.
- Pure red and green can be hard to distinguish for some viewers. Use different lightness or labels.
Icons
An icon is a visual word. It should be recognisable without a caption, or labelled clearly if it is not.
| Principle | What it looks like | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| One family | All line icons with the same stroke weight, or all filled icons. | Consistency helps the eye treat them as a set. |
| Consistent size | Icons occupy similar visual weight. | Prevents one small idea from looking more important. |
| Clear meaning | A tap, a bin, a bus, a water drop. | Reduces guessing. |
| Label when needed | "Compost" under a bin icon. | Prevents ambiguity. |
| No mixed metaphors | Do not mix a photograph, an emoji, and a line icon. | Mixed styles look accidental. |
Line icons
Light, technical, and easy to repeat. Use a consistent stroke weight.
Filled icons
Stronger visual weight. Use for key actions or categories, not every line.
Diagrams
Use shapes and arrows when the relationship matters more than the object.
Symbols and metaphor
A symbol carries meaning beyond its literal form. A melting ice cube can symbolise climate change; a closed loop can symbolise circular economy. Symbols can be powerful, but they can also be vague or culturally specific.
- Use a symbol only if it clarifies the idea.
- Explain unfamiliar symbols in a caption or label.
- Avoid symbols that reinforce stereotypes about people or places.
- Do not use a global icon to stand in for a local issue.
- Do not copy a symbol from another campaign without understanding its meaning.
Icon and symbol planner
| Idea | Icon or symbol | Label | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|---|
Image rights and AI
Use original drawings, licensed icons, or public-domain/CC0 assets with attribution. Do not lift icons from a Google Image search. Check your school's policy on AI: image generators and chatbots may not be allowed for this task.
Check your choices
- Every colour has a job I can explain.
- The text is readable on every background.
- Colour is not the only way meaning is shown.
- Icons come from one visual family.
- Unfamiliar icons have labels.
- Symbols are clear, respectful, and relevant.
- I have the right to use every image.
Assessment link: your rationale must explain why each visual technique strengthens the message. "I used green because it is environmental" is a start, but "I used a muted green for the cause section and a warm accent for the action so the audience reads the problem before the solution" is a justification.