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“haigh” reader👋! and other new subscribers this week. welcome to the december edition of “tic”. If you’re new, you can catch up on our previous editions right here.

_{(“haigh“: hi in Irish)}

in this month’s issue of “tic”, we’re going to talk about how colour influences our mind, how newspapers are made and so much more. so make sure to share this with your friends, so just like you, they too can enjoy and catch up with more interesting stuff like this!

psychology of colour

ever wonder why some colours relax you, while others pep you up? or why some brands are just more memorable than others? the explanation is rooted in the intriguing field of colour psychology, which examines the impacts of colours on our emotions, behaviours, and decisions. from marketing to our daily lives, colour hugely influences our perception.

how colours affect emotions

the colours can also bring up a wide range of emotions and reactions, often unconsciously. whereas individual experiences and cultural backgrounds shape the responses, there are a number of general associations that are easily recognizable:

red: known for its intensity, red stimulates excitement, passion, and urgency. it’s often used in sales and warning signs to grab attention.

blue: associated with calmness and trust, blue is a favourite for brands in finance and technology. it shows off stability and reliability.

yellow: most of the time linked to happiness and optimism, yellow can evoke warmth. however, when overused, it may cause feelings of anxiety.

green: symbolizing nature and growth, green often represents health and harmony. it’s commonly used in eco-friendly or wellness branding.

purple: traditionally linked to royalty and luxury, purple signifies creativity and sophistication.

black & white: black signifies elegance and power, while white represents purity and simplicity. together, they create striking contrasts.

colour in decision making

colour influences not only emotions but also decisions. marketers and designers strategically use colours to guide consumer behaviour:

brand recognition: studies have shown that colour increases brand recognition by as much as 80%. Coca-Cola's red, Facebook's blue, and McDonald's yellow arches are those iconic colours of the brands.

buying decisions: restaurants make use of warm colours, such as red or orange, in order to stimulate appetite. spas often use soft blues and greens to promote relaxation.

web design and user experience: buttons and other call-to-action elements are often coloured to entice clicks. for instance, red might communicate urgency, while green says go or it's a success.

cultural variations in colour perception

while colour psychology has universal elements, interpretations can vary across cultures:

• while in Western cultures, white represents purity and is therefore used at weddings, in some Eastern cultures, it is a colour of mourning.

• whereas red is a colour of celebration and good fortune in China, in Western contexts, it might represent danger.

  

  Chinese lanterns (photo by Henry & Co. on Unsplash)

• while yellow is a sacred colour in India,

  in France, it can symbolize jealousy.

understanding these nuances is crucial for brands with global audiences and for anyone looking to communicate effectively through colour.

using colours in daily life

you can utilize colour psychology to affect your life in the following areas positively:

• home decor: employ soothing blues or greens in bedrooms, which will help relax you, and energetic yellow in the kitchen to create a positive atmosphere.

• clothing: wear colours that indicate how you're feeling or wish to portray such as blue for trustworthiness in job interviews or red for confidence.

• workspaces: add splashes of green for an enhanced level of creativity or white for a clean and minimalist feel.

colour is not merely a matter of sight. it belongs to the psychological experience by influencing our mood, thinking, and even behaviour. through understanding the power of colour, we become more aware of what we choose designing our rooms, picking up clothes, or building brands. so the next time you pick up a colour, think about the emotions and reactions it might inspire because every shade has a story to tell.

John Lennon: a singer who brought peace with music 🎶

John Lennon wasn’t just a musician. he was a dreamer, a rebel, and an artist who believed in the power of music to make the world a better place. born on october 9, 1940, in Liverpool, England, Lennon grew up in a working-class neighbourhood, finding his escape and passion in music. little did the world know, he would go on to change it forever.

as one of the original members of the world-renowned band The Beatles, Lennon co-wrote and performed timeless songs. together with Paul McCartney, he wrote timeless classics such as Hey Jude, Let It Be, Come Together, and All You Need Is Love. The Beatles weren't any band, they were a cultural phenomenon. they redefined music, inspired fashion, and encapsulated a generation in spirit.

there was more to Lennon than The Beatles. When the group disbanded in 1970, Lennon launched a solo career with vigour, devotion, and heart. his song Imagine still represents one of the most powerful anthems for peace, it asks listeners to conceptualize a world absent of war, greed, and divisions. it's one of those songs that feels like a prayer for all humankind, and that message is just as applicable today as when he wrote it.

Lennon's personal life was just as intriguing as his music. his relationship with Yoko Ono, an artist and activist herself, was unlike any other partnership. together, they made their love public in creative ways, famously hosting "bed-ins" for peace-peaceful protests where they stayed in bed for days to advocate for nonviolence. their relationship, though controversial at times, symbolized openness, love, and the importance of standing by your beliefs.

he spoke his mind, be it critiquing war or championing human rights, he used his fame to challenge the status quo. sometimes, his honesty ruffled feathers, but it also worked to make people think differently. "Give peace a chance" one of his most famous phrasings, served not only as a lyric but also as a rallying cry for a better world.

tragically, Lennon's life was cut short in 1980 as he was assassinated outside his home in New York City. just 40 years old, his legacy had already been written. to this very day, fans the world over amass to remember him with his songs and to further his dream of peace.

Lennon reminds us that creativity and courage can make all the difference. the music, the activism, and the vision of a more compassionate world that he left behind continued to

fire the imagination of millions. and so, the next time you hear Imagine, remember that big change begins with small dreams, and every voice, however small, echoes loud in this world.

🔡 wordle fun

here’s an exclusive wordle challenge from us;

behind the headlines: how newspapers are made 📰

every morning, millions worldwide unfold newspapers and read the latest stories, unaware of the complex process by which news reaches them. behind every headline is a world of reporters, editors, designers, and printers struggling to ensure timely, precise, and impressive delivery of information. let's get familiar with the amazing newspaper production process.

gathering information

reporters are the front liners in gathering news. they write from breaking news to in-depth stories, conduct interviews, research facts, and attend events. in this digital age, some information is based on monitoring trends in social media and data analysis.

and here is where editors, too, become very important, assigning topics and making sure the reporters stay focused on what is most important to the audience. the newsroom meetings are where ideas are pitched, stories are prioritized, and the direction of the day's content is decided.

writing and editing

after the story has been written, it goes through many layers of editing such as copy editors for grammar, style, and factual accuracy and section editors to make sure the story fits with the newspaper's tone and purpose. headlines and subheadings are created with the purpose of capturing attention and summarizing the article succinctly.

designing the layout

when the articles are ready, they enter the design phase. the layout editors decide how the stories, images, and advertisements will look on every page. they use special software to arrange elements in a way that looks attractive and is easy to read. balance is key, the front-page stories take priority positioning, while smaller articles fill the inner pages.

photographers and graphic designers complement the stories with striking visuals, infographics, and charts. a good layout means the paper is both informative and engaging.

printing the paper

once the design is approved, it's time to print. modern printing presses can produce thousands of copies per hour. creating printing plates for each page and loading them onto the press is the first step in this process. ink is applied to the plates to transfer text and images onto giant rolls of newsprint.

high-speed machines fold, cut, and stack the printed sheets into finished newspapers. the precision and efficiency of this process are remarkable, given the tight deadlines newspapers operate under.

distribution

afterwards, the distribution teams take over. trucks, vans, and even bicycles ensure the newspapers reach homes, businesses, and vending machines. in some areas, delivery takes place under cover of darkness

so readers can have their papers with the morning dew. for digital editions, this involves the uploading of content to the newspaper website or app, usually with extra treats, such as videos or interactive features.

adapting to change

the essence of journalism remains the same, though newspaper production has changed over the years. digital technology now allows much faster reporting, often live updates, and spreads far and wide. however, the core element of all newspapers survives on reliable, well-researched information.

but beneath this apparent simplicity, the physical act of turning the page lies a complex process of collaboration by scores of professionals. it may be from the reporters chasing down a story to designers perfecting layouts and printers burning the midnight oil, but each edition is a testament to the combined effort of a news-gathering organization determinedly endeavouring to keep the public informed. next time you read a newspaper, pause for a moment to appreciate the time and skill that transported those stories into your hands.

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👓 reader’s corner

“reader’s corner” is your own space to share your interesting stories, experiences or any kind of content.

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here’s a fun fact about sharks that might surprise you 🦈

Sharks came before trees! Sharks have been swimming in Earth's oceans for over 400 million years, while the first trees only showed up about 350 million years ago. This means sharks predate just about everything, from trees to dinosaurs, by a big margin of the oldest survivors on the planet!

thank you for reading! wish you all a wonderful month.

until next month,

“tic.” team