Colours impact our mood, our appetite and our energy level.
Color in design is very subjective. What evokes one reaction in one person may evoke a very different reaction in someone else. Sometimes this is due to personal preference, and other times due to cultural background
Something as simple as changing the exact hue or saturation of a color can evoke a completely different feeling. Cultural differences mean that something that’s happy and uplifting in one country can be depressing in another.
In web design, colours play powerful role – they make us feel and react certain way.
In corporate design, colours are critical to building the brand’s image. Specific colour schemes used effectively and consistently throughout all marketing materials creates a more unified and familiar look. Those colours are then associated with that company.
By using colour psychology, you can send a positive or negative message, encourage sales, calm a crowd, or make someones heart beat faster.
Here is a meaning of basic colours which will help you to make your colour choices wisely from the start!
YELLOW
- Associated with: comfort, liveliness, intellect, happiness, energy, laughter, happiness, optimism, cowardice
- Recognized as: creative, young, visible, bright, lively, cheerful, light, curious, playful, nutritious, eye-catching, attention-grabbing, cowardly
ORANGE
- Associated with: enthusiasm, ambition, creativity, cheerfulness, affordability, stimulation
- Recognized as: Welcoming, warning, festive, active, excited, communicative, inspiring, cosy, helpful, friendly
RED
- Associated with: energy, strength, boldness, leadership, career goals, determination, fast action, movement, excitement, cheerfulness, passion, desire, love, life, courage, danger, risk, war, blood, bravery, aggression
- Recognized as: Powerful, vital, dynamic, energetic, romantic, seductive, passionate, commanding, alert, rebellious, complementary, visible, hot, fiery, fun, drawing attention, eye-catching, noticeable
PURPLE
- Associated with: power, wealth, prosperity, rich sophistication, nobility, luxury, mystery, royalty, elegance, magic, wisdom, respect
- Recognized as: intelligent, artistic, aloof, luxurious, royal, vain, fantastic, melancholic, feminine, fragrant, solemn
GREEN
- Associated with: reliability, safety, honesty, optimism, harmony, freshness, durability, growth, nature, money, wealth, envy, good luck, generosity, fertility, peace, harmony, support, good energy
- Recognized as: reliable, safe, honest, patient, natural, adventurous, relaxed, athletic, lucky, balanced, safe, conservative, musculine
BLUE
- Associated with: depth, stability, professionalism, loyalty, reliability, honour, trust, dependability, wisdom, loyalty
- Recognized as: peaceful, formal, trustworthy, reliable, firm, determined, educated, clean, free, deep, technical
BLACK
- Associated with: elegance, sophistication, formality, strength, mystery, authority, power, stability and strength, intelligence, evil, grieving
- Recognized as: elegant, formal, powerful, serious, conservative, sophisticated, conventional, mysterious, sexy
WHITE
- Associated with: cleanliness, purity, harmony, truth, new beginnings, virginity, peace, innocence, simplicity, safety, neutrality, creativity, spirituality, precision, positivity, union, goodness, heroism
- Pure, clean, new, innocent, simple
Colour theory is a science in itself. Studying how colours affect different people, either individually or as a group, is something some people build their careers on.
And there’s a lot to it……
