Wednesday 18 May 2011

Colour Psychology - Are you showing your true colours

To find out more information about design and print related topics please look at our other blogs or visit www.tridentdesign.co.uk to see how we can help you with any of your design and print needs!


Being aware of Colour psychology can send out positive or negative messages to your audience.

You can encourage sales, provoke a reaction, encourage a call to action or evoke some emotion. By combining colour with the correct use of imagery this makes up a fundamental part of any designed piece.

The information below may help you decided what colours to use in your marketing projects.

Black - is the color of authority and power, stability and strength. It is also the color associated with intelligence. Black is a serious color that evokes strong emotions; it is easy to overwhelm people with too much black

White - is associated with purity, cleanliness (doctors in white coats) and the safety of bright light. It is actually a compression of all the colours in the color spectrum.

Red - if you want to draw attention, use red. It tends to be where the eye looks first. Red is the colour of energy it is associated with movement and excitement. Red is used at holidays that are about love and giving (red roses, Valentines hearts, Christmas, etc.)

Blue - the majority of people will say blue is their favourite colour. Much of the world is blue (skies, seas)... Seeing the colour blue actually causes the body to produce chemicals that are calming. Over the ages blue has become associated with steadfastness, dependability, wisdom and loyalty

Green - is the colour of growth, nature, and money. It is also the color associated with envy, good luck, generosity and fertility. It is the traditional colour of peace, harmony, comfortable nurturing, support and well paced energy.

Yellow - Cheerful yellow the colour of the sun, associated with laughter, happiness and good times. A person surrounded by yellow feels optimistic because the brain actually releases more seratonin (feel good chemical in the brain)

Orange - The most vibrant colour on the planet! It's the color tied most this fun times, happy and energetic days, warmth and organic products. It is also associated with ambition.

Purple - our most royal colour it is associated with wealth, prosperity, rich sophistication. This colour stimulates the brain activity used in problem solving. Use purple most carefully to lend an air of mystery, wisdom, and respect.

Brown - is most associated with reliability, stability, and friendship. It is also associated with things being natural or organic.

To find out more information about design and print related topics please look at our other blogs or visit www.tridentdesign.co.uk to see how we can help you with any of your design and print needs!