Tbh I'm tired of seeing that same blue and orange combo on every website

Honestly, it feels like every other project I see uses that exact same bright blue with a burnt orange accent. I get it, it's a high contrast complementary pair, but it's getting lazy. I worked on a redesign for a local bakery's site last week and the owner straight up asked for 'that trendy blue and orange look.' It matters because it makes every brand look the same and ignores color psychology. How do you gently push back and suggest a more unique palette that still works? Has anyone found a good way to explain this to clients without sounding like you're just being difficult?

3 comments

3 Comments

cole_mitchell5712h ago

Feel you on this one man. That blue and orange combo is everywhere now, like a default setting people don't even question. I had a client who insisted on it for their landscaping company site and I tried explaining that it might make them look like every other contractor out there. They didn't get it until I showed them a rough mockup with some greens and earth tones that actually matched their brand name and photos. Sometimes you gotta just pull up a few examples of real competitors using the same palette and let them see how boring it looks side by side. Mood boards help, but honestly some folks just need to see the visual proof before they back off. It's frustrating when they think you're being picky when you're just trying to help them stand out.

finley_walker571mo ago

Mood boards are a solid start. Sometimes you gotta show them what "cozy" or "fresh" actually looks like in color. Picking a feeling first makes the palette choice make more sense to them.

lucas9721mo ago

Ugh, preach. I show them a mood board with other good combos and ask what feeling they want their brand to have.