Colors That Sell! The Psychology of Color in Branding & Design
What will you choose for your brand?
So many options! But it can be fun and exciting!!🎨
The use of color in branding and design has a significant impact on how people perceive and interact with a brand.
As human beings, we have an emotional connection to color and it plays a crucial role in shaping our behavior and decision-making.
When designing your brand or website, it's important to consider the colors that will be used and the emotions and associations that they convey. By doing so, your brand will create a powerful and memorable brand identity that stands out in a crowded and competitive marketplace.
Here we'll take a quick look at the thinking & psychology behind color in branding and design…..and how it can help your business create a strong and effective brand identity!
Red
Red is a powerful and attention-grabbing color that is often associated with passion, energy, and excitement.
(Fun fact? Red is actually the first color you recognize as a baby🐣👶) It’s commonly used in branding for industries such as food, entertainment, and sports.
Don’t believe me?……Think of some of the most powerful & most successful brands in the world who use red; McDonald’s, YouTube, Netflix, Toyota, Nintendo, Kellogg’s, Puma, Virgin, Red Bull, Coca Cola…and so many more (for a very good reason!)
Red can stimulate appetite, much like Chinese restaurants - red is not only cultural (stick with me🤗 I loveeee Chinese food, studied Mandarin for 8 years & love & miss my old housemates from there!)
They were the most welcoming home environment I’d been in for years - Xie Xie! (thank you🙏).
Red creates a sense of urgency, making it an effective choice for call-to-action buttons on your site!
Blue
Blue is a calming and trustworthy color that is commonly associated with professionalism, security, and stability.
I know this (mainly as it’s my favorite color!🤗 If you can’t already tell from my site!…Sometimes even back in the corporate world for this very reason, I often wore blue at interviews, meetings and to the office).
It’s also a popular choice in branding for industries such as finance, healthcare, and technology as it can create a sense of trust and reliability, making it an effective choice for brands that want to establish a strong reputation.
Green
(I feel my genuine Irish heritage loving this one already!🍀)
Green is a color that is commonly associated with nature, growth, and balance. (And money! Not just on money…but people often associate it with wealth💵) It’s often also used in branding for industries such as food, health, and wellness.
Green has a way of creating a sense of freshness and vitality, making it an effective choice for brands who want to promote a healthy lifestyle…or eco-friendly practices🍃.
Yellow
Yellow appeals to the child in us and suggests feelings of cheerfulness, originality, and warmth! Likely due to its connection to sunny days🌞.
It’s a bright and cheerful color that’s commonly associated with optimism, creativity, and playfulness. Ever noticed how it’s often used in branding for industries such as children's products, fashion, and entertainment?
Many brands, such as Cheerios, Nesquik, and Chupa Chups, use yellow in their logos.
Denny's, known for breakfast, evokes the idea of "rise and shine" with a good breakfast, and McDonald's is easily recognized by its "golden arches"🍟.
(I even popped into a local stationary store to buy a HUGE yellow card to hold up at a music event to get the attention of my favorite DJ (Difficult to find a yellow one actually!) But even the cashier commented ‘it’s very cheerful isnt it! That comment alone made my day; I was in ‘get it done task mode’ & it was nice to connect with her🤗.)
Yellow can create a sense of excitement and fun, making it an effective choice for brands who want to appeal to a younger demographic.
So……if your brand is offering cheerful, fast, accessible products or services, you may benefit from using yellow in your branding.
Purple
Here’s an interesting one!
Purple…..people seem to love or hate it. It’s a color commonly associated with royalty, fantasy, luxury, creativity, and sophistication. It is often used in branding for industries such as beauty, fashion, and technology.
Thinkkkkkk…..FedEx, Yahoo, Cadbury, Taco Bell (okay that last ones a little less ‘lux’😉)
It can create a sense of elegance and exclusivity, making it an effective choice for brands that want to convey a high-end or premium image.
Choosing the right color for your brand depends on the associations you want to create.
If your brand is geared towards women or girls, purple is a natural choice, second only to pink.
So I hope you can see how the psychology of color plays a significant role in how people perceive and interact with your brand.
Feel free to take these into consideration when thinking about branding or rebranding your business.
By understanding the emotional connections that different colors can bring, your brand can create a strong and effective brand identity that resonates with your target audience!
We offer a range of branding options for your business, even if you’re just getting up & running, or looking for a refresh!
