Neon is an eye-catching chemical element that we’re all familiar with from the eponymous illuminated signs that light up streets and buildings in cities around the world. It glows a bright red-orange color when electricity is passed through it, but it’s the combination of gases that create the other colors of neon lighting.
Invented in 1898 by Scottish and English chemists William Ramsay and Morris Travers, neon is one of seven noble gases that comprise group 18 of the Periodic Table (and also includes helium, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon). It’s inert, meaning it has a full octet of electrons so it doesn’t react with other elements. However, it can form compounds such as ions and molecular excimers with fluorine.
When paired with white or black, neon hues can be effective for highlighting or enlivening text and other elements in a design. Alternatively, you can combine a variety of neon spot colors together to achieve an eclectic and psychedelic look, like in this design by Marta Gawin for the Katowice Street Art Festival.
When designing with neon, it’s best to use analogous color combinations that include colors that fall right next to each other on the color wheel. This keeps the palette from becoming too overpowering and helps create visual harmony in your designs. For example, pairing a smoky pink with sunny yellow can help balance the vibrancy of the palette while still maintaining an air of contemporary style.
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