Color. It's often the first thing we notice about well, anything. And believe it or not, colors are tied to psychological and emotional responses for us humans. When you look at bright yellow flowers sprouting in your backyard you get a sense of happiness and warmth because spring has finally arrived. Or that you choose the bank with the blue logo, because it makes you feel like your money is safe and that you can trust them. When you pick the bold red blouse on presentation day to tell the world watch out for your confidence. These are all examples of how color is speaking to you without actually saying anything.
I've compiled some of the most important responses about common colors below. Tell me, do your colors support your company's mission?
Looking to make a statement? Red is the color of passion and love. Red says that you're bold, confident, and flashy. Red inspires desire and has a strong link to sexuality. But be careful that you're using it wisely. Red can also convey danger, and drama, and tell people to stop.
People think happy thoughts when they see orange. Social and inviting, this is the color of the extrovert, exuding happiness and joy. Orange is the color of action and energy. Warm, inviting, and cheerful, this is a great color for brands that want to convey optimism.
The color of optimism. Light and airy, yellow is a great color to use for a fun and friendly business. Like orange, yellow conveys positivity and happiness to everyone around. Yellow is a compelling color that conveys youthful and fresh energy. Yellow stimulates the left side of the brain, helping with clear thinking and quick decision-making.
It's the color of money and the color of life. Green can convey a sense of a fresh, growing business. People associate the color green with success and wealth. Green evokes feelings of abundance and a plentiful environment while providing a restful and secure feeling. Green has strong associations with feeling refreshed and peaceful.
Professional and trustworthy are the keywords for blue. They make us think of the big blue sky or ocean - conveying a calming sensation as well as serenity and peace. The popular color instills confidence and inspires feelings of loyalty, integrity, and responsibility. Blue is a relatively safe color for any brand.
The color of spirituality. The energy of red with the calm of blue combine to create purple, a color that inspires reflection and self-awareness. The color of royalty and luxury. Purple can be used for high-end sophisticated brands. But it's also the color of unicorns and mystery, conveying something magical.
The color of sensitivity - the passion of red combined with the purity of white, creates this color associated with love and tranquility. Pink is usually associated with feminine brands and has a flirty, fun appeal to it. Used as a pastel it can add a touch of softness. Or used as a bright tone it can add playfulness and edge.
It's the color of cool chrome and all things shiny. Gray can give your brand a sleek look and feel. It's the king of all neutrals and can be paired with any other color without overshadowing it. Gray is linked with maturity and protection, it is the color of compromise.
Dark and mysterious, black can make a huge impact on any brand. Black is a strong and powerful color, it is formal and sophisticated, sexy, and secretive. Use a touch of it to add emphasis or add a lot to give drama. A dark brand is a big statement if pulled off right.
There is so much more that goes into color and the style of your brand, but having a little understanding of color psychology is a great place to start.
