FROM ME THIS WEEK
Some Rooms Are Not for You
Less but better
This week I went to a coworking event my gut told me to skip.
I went anyway. When I'm unsure, I always lean toward trying. Sometimes that feeling is just discomfort in disguise. You have to test it to know.
It wasn't for me. My brain can't filter a room where everything competes at once. Trying to connect there felt like trying to have a conversation in a nightclub.
I left feeling a little discouraged. But also clear.
This week's tutorial is about color pairing with portraits. Memphis is loud, but the face always wins.
LEARN DESIGN
Memphis Color Pairing for Portraits
Learn a specific logic to pair bold Memphis colors with portraits in Figma.
🎁 Grab your starter file and follow along!
Video Tutorial is linked below.
Step 1 - The Logic
Memphis design is usually loud and busy.
To make it work for a professional layout, start with the most important element: the human subject.
human is the center
Step 2 – the Bold Cutout
Use eyedropper to check the subject.
Pick one hue but move the picker further away in the HSB map.
Something well-saturated with at least 50% brightness.
apply cutout color
Step 3 – The Pastel Split
Use color wheel palette generator plugin to generate a ""split"" palette based on that cutout color.
Reduce the saturation to 20% and set the brightness to 100%.
saturation 20% and brightness 100%
Step 4 – Creating Depth
For patterns like Terrazzo, use a simple "Curve" method to create three color steps:
Lighter: Saturation -5, Brightness +5
Darker: Saturation +5, Brightness -5
create a color scale for terazzo pattern
Step 6 – Tada!
Hierarchy doesn't have to be boring. With this logic, you get a high-energy Memphis look that still delivers clear information.
Final result
Watch on Youtube
Like and share the video.
Leave a comment if you got any questions!
WHAT’S COMING NEXT
Rest, Then We Go Again
coming soon
This one wraps up the current batch. Go back to one tutorial that felt just slightly out of reach and try it on something of your own. That's where it actually sticks.
For the next batch, I already have two confirmed. I'm remaking the torn paper effect from scratch since many of you said the original moved too fast. And I'm building an auto layout and grid layout tutorial for seasoned designers who haven't had time to catch up on the latest updates. That one is going to unlock a lot of layout possibilities.
A few spots are still open. Hit reply and tell me what you want to see next. I read every message.
Thanks for reading and spending a bit of your day with me.
If you want to keep up with more behind-the-scenes thoughts or small design notes I don’t always send by email, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.
Would love to have you there:
See you in the next email.
MengChi