Have you ever wondered how certain websites, product packaging, or logos create a particular feeling? Perhaps they elicit a feeling of bold excitement, or they evoke a calm and soothing reaction. Regardless of the mood that’s created, color plays a crucial role in our response.
The study of how certain colors affect our mood, leave us with certain impressions about a brand, or even influence our behavior is known as color psychology. Knowing a bit about color psychology can help us make strategic decisions when it comes to developing a brand.
-RED
Red conveys strength, excitement, and energy. Use it in your branding if you’re hoping to create a bold, powerful statement. This color typically works best in small doses, as extensive areas of red can quickly become overwhelming.
-BLACK
Like red, black can make a bold and impactful statement. Depending on how black is used in your branding, you can create a sleek, edgy feel, or one of elegance, luxury, and class.
-YELLOW
Yellow creates a sense of excitement, joy, happiness, and fun. Incorporate it into your branding if you want to generate a bright, playful, and energetic feeling. Like red, yellow has the most impact in small quantities.
-ORANGE
Orange brings a feeling of vibrance and enthusiasm similar to yellow. Use it if you want to create a bright, energetic feeling that also invokes a sense of confidence.
-GREEN
Green is used in branding to create a feeling of success, development, and new life. Incorporate this color in your palette if you’re looking to communicate a feeling of growth.
-BLUE
Blue can communicate a sense of calm, peace, loyalty, and stability. Consider adding blue to your branding if you want to create a soothing feeling that also fosters a sense of trust and dependability.
-WHITE
Utilizing white in your brand can create a feeling of simplicity, cleanliness, and purity. Add white to your brand if you’re hoping to create a minimalistic and simple feel or consider pairing it with black to create a bold and contrasting statement.
-PURPLE
Since purple is traditionally associated with royalty, adding it to your branding can convey a sense of elegance and sophistication. The color can also have a soothing effect. Consider incorporating purple into your branding if you want to invoke a feeling of luxury.
-BROWN
Incorporating brown into your branding can suggest a feeling of dependability and simplicity. The color has a very natural and down-to-earth feel, so add brown to your palette if you’re trying to create a sense of stability.
MAKE COLOR WORK FOR YOU
Take a look at your logo, website, graphics, etc. and ask yourself if it’s communicating the message and feeling you’re hoping for as effectively as possible. If not, perhaps it’s time to rebrand and make color work better for you!