Developing your Brand - Colors
mostly all dark colors like black or a deep blue?
Everywhere we go and everywhere we look our eyes are blessed with
the beauty of hundreds of different colors, but do you ever really step back
and think about the emotional ties theses colors have on you?
Colors are more than just appealing to your eyes, they actually have a great psychological
effect on you that maybe you've never really put much thought into. A popular
example is to think of a few of your favorite fast food places such as
McDonalds, Wendy’s, and Burger King. What do each of these famous fast food
chains all have in common?
Their Colours! If you think about it, almost every fast food joint incorporates
red, yellow, and orange hues. Which I guarantee it's not just because these
companies all just have the same taste in choosing colors, it’s because these colors
are known to subconsciously trigger hunger and excitement. Encouraging their
customers to spend more and then to quickly leave, which is the whole idea
behind a fast food restaurant.
Research has proven colors create certain emotional and physical impacts on
people so you should always remember this when developing the brand behind your
business. Like I stated in my earlier post branding is more than just a logo, it’s
the way you want to portray your business and connect to your consumers. So one
way in connecting with your customers is to utilize colors that will have an
effect on bringing together your business and its potential buyers.
I've included a short description below on some basic colors and the meanings
behind them. Though one thing you also have to keep in mind is sometimes the
way you use the colors changes the feelings behind them, and also depending on
the location you present your colors, the effects of the colors might be
different. Some colors might mean one thing over here in the united states but
it might have a completely different meaning overseas.
I hope this makes you take an extra look into the colors you use in branding
your business and gives you some inspiration to developing a strong brand!
Blue: Cool blue is perceived as trustworthy, dependable, fiscally responsible and secure. Strongly
associated with the sky and sea, blue is serene and universally
well-liked. Blue is an especially popular color with financial institutions, as its message of stability inspires trust.
Red: Red activates your pituitary gland, increasing
your heart rate and causing you to breathe more rapidly. This visceral
response makes red aggressive, energetic, provocative and
attention-grabbing. Count on red to evoke a passionate response, albeit
not always a favorable one. For example, red can represent danger or
indebtedness.
Green: In general, green connotes health, freshness and serenity. However, green’s meaning
varies with its many shades. Deeper greens are associated with wealth
or prestige, while light greens are calming.
Yellow: In every society, yellow is associated with the sun. Thus, it communicates optimism, positivism, light and warmth. Certain shades seem to motivate
and stimulate creative thought and energy. The eye sees bright yellows
before any other color, making them great for point-of-purchase
displays.
Purple: Purple is a color favored by creative types. With its blend of passionate red and tranquil blue, it evokes
mystery, sophistication, spirituality and royalty. Lavender evokes
nostalgia and sentimentality.
Pink: Pink’s message varies by intensity. Hot pinks
convey energy, youthfulness, fun and excitement and are recommended for
less expensive or trendy products for women or girls. Dusty pinks
appear sentimental. Lighter pinks are more romantic.
Orange: Cheerful orange evokes exuberance, fun and
vitality. With the drama of red plus the cheer of yellow, orange is
viewed as gregarious and often childlike. Research indicates its
lighter shades appeal to an upscale market. Peach tones work well
with healthcare, restaurants and beauty salons.
Brown: This earthy color conveys simplicity, durability and stability. It can also elicit a negative response from
consumers who relate to it as dirty. Certain shades of brown, like
terracotta, can convey an upscale look. From a functional perspective,
brown tends to hide dirt, making it a logical choice for some trucking
and industrial companies.
Black: Black is serious, bold, powerful and classic. It creates drama and connotes sophistication. Black works well
for expensive products, but can also make a product look heavy.
White: White connotes simplicity, cleanliness and
purity. The human eye views white as a brilliant color, so it
immediately catches the eye in signage. White is often used with infant
and health-related products.
"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way--things I had no words for." - Georgia O'Keeffe
© 2010 Created by Reggie.
