Colour strategies in mental health promotion posters in China and the UK: a cross-cultural pattern recognition analysis

Mental health promotion is increasingly recognised as a global imperative, with visual communication-including posters displayed on websites-playing a crucial role in shaping public perception and fostering awareness about human well-being. This article reports a cross-cultural pattern recognition analysis involving two colour studies. Study 1 investigates the use of colours in mental health promotion posters displayed on Chinese and British university websites of Nanjing, Shenzhen, Edinburgh, and London. Computational methods, including K-means clustering and Euclidean distance metrics within the CIELAB colour space, were employed to analyse the 30 most prevalent colours used in the poster designs. The findings reveal that Chinese posters predominantly feature vibrant, warm colours, while British posters use a varied palette and favour cooler, muted tones. Study 2 explores similarities and differences in colour choices perceived as relevant for use in mental health posters by visual designers of the four cities. By offering a city-level comparison, the study uncovers nuanced distinctions in how regional contexts influence colour choices and shape visual trends with regard to mental health promotion. The results advocate for the integration of data-driven and human-centred insights into the understanding of colour choices to ensure that mental health promotion remains both visually engaging and perceptually relevant across diverse global audiences.