It's no secret the environment affects people
If you think about it that makes sense. In many ways, people and organizations are reflections of their environments. Organizations hire interior designers to bring about environments conducive to their business. They commission architects to design buildings that showcase the purpose and style of the organization. But what about colors? Do they affect people as well?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it turns out they do
Opinions sometime vary as to what the exact effects are, but one approach is to look at how the meanings of different colors may have developed in our history. Colors have been used since ancient times. According to Colour History, the Egyptians often utilized green for the floors of their temples, because it was the color of grass, and they favored blue to match the sky.
Green is bright and alive
Many, many living plants are green, and it is a color with positive associations throughout history. Think grass, leaves and plants.
Red is what is called a signal color
It calls our attention, alarms and alerts us. It is the color of many fruits on trees. It is the color of blood, our most precious fluid. It is the color of stop signs, fires, and red lights. The Red Cross on the white background distinguishes that fine service organization quickly and unmistakably. Red is sometimes associated with courage.
Blue is the favorite color of many, peaceful and calm
It is the shade of a clear sky or the ocean on a sunny day.
Cleanliness and royalty
White is often associated with purity and cleanliness. Purple has traditionally been worn by royalty.
In modern times, color choice can be just as important to an organization
The Golden Arches are one example. Odds are you know the company without even being told the name. The color gold has positive associations to both the rich metal and the rays of the sun. Many companies use blue in their logos, a color of peace and serenity. Walmart uses blue and gold. Pepsi utilizes an interesting combination of blue, white, and red, colors which have a strong positive attraction. As noted by Rachel Gillett, many times the first thing people notice about a company is their logo, and color is a very important part of the design. We don't always think about it consciously, but colors are a very important part of life. Without them, things would be just, well... black and white, or drab shades of gray.
Like what you read? Let’s work together! Find me on social media, explore my website or hit me up via email at mike@shortsleevedesigns.com.