Graphic designers - hot colors?

[jumptheshadow]

I'm working on a brochure for a small business, have a fairly low budget, and would love to know what the designers on our board see as nice color combinations for the next two years. The brochure is not political; it's aimed at a fashion-conscious audience. Any suggestions or leads to informative websites would be appreciated.

Thanks.

[zulchzulu]

1. Start here

http://graphicdesign.about.com/library/color/blweb.htm

Pastels are "out" for the most part...depends where the client is though...if in a Red state, they probably are still in '50's mode.

:->

[jumptheshadow]

2. LOL

Thank you, NY and Euro types are the target....

[Redstone]

3. Another suggestion...

That link to the color combinations is a good one. I have just one further recommendation, and it's about typefaces:

Please, please even if you have to slam the lid of your PowerBook on your client's fingers, do not let them make you use Helvetica.

Helvetica just screams "It's 1958 all over again!" (You may not have this problem with your client because they're "fashion-conscious," but I get it all the time from my customers, who are all manufacturing companies.)

Ditto Lithos, which still pops up like the Undead occcasionally.

Also really, really over are the "grunge" typefaces that were so sickeningly popular in the 1990s. And not a moment too soon.

Classic and classy, yet not tired suggestions: Stone sans and serif, Frutiger, Minion, Myraid.

Hope this helps.

Redstone

[davsand]

4. Sorry, there's nothing wrong with the Helvetica family.

I can't agree with you--there is nothing WRONG with the Helvetica family of fonts. They are clean and clear and readable. IMO they are a classic and used with prudence they can be fine even today...

I have WAY more problem with some of those fonts are are supposed to be "trendy" that are just unreadable. (BTW, the ones you listed were great--I'm not complaining about those!) I am not fond of the "euro trash" fonts as I call them, and I'd rather cut my left arm off than go with some of them...

IMO, color use and a clean readable font are the main focus.

Probably show my lack of ability or leaping lack of taste...


Laura

[Redstone]

6. "Eurotrash fonts?"

Great description! One of these things you probably couldn't define, but you know it when you see it. I agree with you 100% on this.

My problem with Helvetica isn't with legibility; it's with overuse and lack of style. Though I do also find it a little hard to read after a while because most Helveticas don't have very good kerning tables (maybe this is because people tend to use "cheap" or generic helveticas instead of something from a reputable type house like Adobe or Monotype?

Just my two cents, but I find that even Optima is much more attractive than Helvetica--Again, it might just be because I've seen SO much of it.

Redstone

[ghostsofgiants]

7. Yeah, Helvetica is seriously a beautiful font.

There is no way any graphic designer who is at all serious about what he/she does can front on Helvetica and keep a straight face.

[mopinko]

5. there is a graphic group

you might want to post there.

[spinbaby]

8. Magenta and turquoise seem to be in right now

But that could change tomorrow.