Author: Ar.Keerthana.K.P Assistant Professor, DC School of Architecture and Design, Vagamon.

An Exercise in Basic Design for First-Year B.Arch Students, DC School of Architecture and Design, Vagamon
The first year of the B.Arch program at DC School of Architecture and Design, Vagamon, Basic Design studio serves as a cornerstone in developing students’ creative thinking and foundational design understanding. One of the key exercises that students will engage with is Exploring Colours and the Colour Wheel in Design. This exercise will introduce students to the emotional, psychological, and compositional power of colour. Rather than treating colour as a mere decorative element, students will learn to understand and apply it as a strategic design tool—capable of influencing mood, guiding perception, and enhancing spatial experience. Acquiring a solid understanding of design fundamentals is a vital part of the educational path for students aiming to join b arch colleges in Kerala.

Students will begin their exploration with the colour wheel, a core visual framework that organizes colours into primary, secondary, and tertiary categories. This will help them understand how colours relate to each other and how they can be used in combination to create harmony or contrast. Key concepts such as hue, saturation, tint, tone, shade, and value will be introduced, forming the foundation for more advanced colour studies. Through hands-on colour mixing exercises, students will experiment with pigments to create new shades, gradients, and tones. They will see firsthand how slight changes in value or intensity can impact the emotional and visual balance of a design composition.

As they progress, students will study various colour schemes such as monochromatic, complementary, analogous, and triadic palettes. These will be applied in small design compositions that will challenge them to think critically about colour harmony and visual hierarchy. Alongside technical skills, students will also explore the psychology of colour. They will learn how warm colours like red and orange can evoke energy and passion, while cool tones like blue and green can convey calmness and serenity. This knowledge will prepare students to make informed decisions about colour in architectural spaces, from interior atmospheres to exterior facades and urban environments. This approach aligns with the curriculum followed in best b arch colleges in Kerala.

Students will also be encouraged to examine the cultural and contextual dimensions of colour. They will reflect on how the meaning and symbolism of colour can change depending on cultural background, context, and individual perception. This awareness will help them approach design with greater sensitivity and thoughtfulness, recognizing that colour can carry deep cultural significance and communicative power.

The assessment will focus on students’ ability to understand and apply the colour wheel, demonstrate skill in colour mixing, thoughtfully use colour schemes, express emotional and psychological impact through colour, and organize their visual compositions with clarity and creativity. By the end of the exercise, students will develop a more intentional and analytical approach to colour. They will begin to see it not just as a surface treatment, but as an essential element that shapes experience, supports narratives, and enhances the architectural language.

This exercise will equip students with the skills and confidence to use colour meaningfully in future projects involving materials, façades, interiors, environmental graphics, and presentation boards. Most importantly, students will come to realize that colour is not just aesthetic—it is strategic, symbolic, and sensory. When used thoughtfully, it will become an integral part of their design vocabulary, helping them create more impactful and immersive architectural experiences. This holistic training methodology is a hallmark of barch colleges in Kerala that aim to nurture future-ready architects.