Colour meanings are important in design and if you choose the wrongs colours this may affect the success of the design; you could incur cultural differences when using certain colours so you have to thing about the market you are selling to. This is why I have decided to look at colour theory so I can understand the meanings so that my designs will have a strong message.
1). Red - it is the colour of blood and fire and is often associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination, passion, desire and love. It is an emotionally intense colour. It has been know to increase respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. It is used for stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment due to it’s high visibility. In heraldry, red is used to indicate courage. It is a colour found in many national flags. Red brings text and images to the foreground. When used as an accent colour it can make people make quick decisions for example impulse buys. Often in advertising red is used to evoke a sensual appeal. On the other hand it can be used to indicate danger. When advertising energy drinks, games, cars and any thing that relates to high energy you can use red as it is related to energy.
Light red represents joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, and love.
Pink signifies romance, love, and friendship. It denotes feminine qualities and passiveness.
Dark red is associated with vigour, willpower, rage, anger, leadership, courage, longing, malice, and wrath.
Brown suggests stability and denotes masculine qualities.
Reddish-brown is associated with harvest and fall.
2). Orange - combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, and stimulation. It can give the sensation of heat as it is seen as a very hot colour. However, orange is not as aggressive as red. Orange increases oxygen supply to the brain, produces an invigorating effect, and stimulates mental act
ivity. It is highly accepted among young people. As a citrus colour, orange is associated with healthy food and stimulates appetite. Orange is the colour of fall and harvest. In heraldry, orange is symbolic of strength and endurance. Orange has very high visibility, so you can use it to catch attention and highlight the most important elements of your design.
Dark orange can mean deceit and distrust.
Red-orange corresponds to desire, sexual passion, pleasure, domination, aggression, and thirst for action.
Gold evokes the feeling of prestige. The meaning of gold is illumination, wisdom, and wealth. Gold often symbolizes high quality.
3). Yellow - is the colour of sunshine. It’s associated with joy, happiness, intellect, and energy. Yellow produces a warming effect, arouses cheerfulness, stimulates mental activity, and generates muscle energy. Yellow is often associated with food. Bright, pure yellow draws attention, which is the reason taxicabs are painted this colour. When overused, yellow may have a disturbing effect. Yellow is seen before other colours when placed against black; this combination is often used to issue a warning. In heraldry, yellow indicates honour and loyalty. Later the meaning of yellow was connected with cowardice. It can evoke pleasant, cheerful feelings. Yellow is very effective for attracting attention, so use it to highlight the most important elements of your design. Men usually perceive yellow as a very light-hearted, ‘childish’ colour, so Yellow is an unstable and spontaneous colour, so avoid using yellow if you want to suggest stability and safety.
Dull (dingy) yellow represents caution, decay, sickness, and jealousy.
Light yellow is associated with intellect, freshness, and joy.
4). Green - is the colour of nature. It symbolises growth, harmony, freshness, and fertility. Green has strong emotional correspondence with safety. Dark green is also commonly associated with money. Green has great healing power. It is the most restful colour for the human eye; it can improve vision. Green suggests stability and endurance. In heraldry, green indicates growth and hope. Green means safety; it is the colour of free passage in road traffic. Green is directly related to nature, so you can use it to promote ‘green’ products.
Dark green is associated with ambition, greed, and jealousy.
Yellow-green can indicate sickness, cowardice, discord, and jealousy.
Aqua is associated with emotional healing and protection.
Olive green is the traditional colour of peace.
5). Blue - It is often associated with depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven. Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body. It slows human metabolism and produces a calming effect. Blue is strongly associated with tranquillity and calmness. In heraldry, blue is used to symbolize piety and sincerity. Blue is linked to consciousness and intellect. Use blue to suggest precision when promoting high-tech products. Blue is a masculine colour. When used together with warm colours like yellow or red, blue can create high-impact, vibrant designs.
Light blue is associated with health, healing, tranquillity, understanding, and softness.
Dark blue represents knowledge, power, integrity, and seriousness.
6). Purple - combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolises power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It conveys wealth and extravagance. Purple is associated with wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic. According to surveys, almost 75 percent of pre-adolescent children prefer purple to all other colours. Light purple is used for a feminine design whereas bright purple is used to promote children’s products.
Light purple evokes romantic and nostalgic feelings.
Dark purple evokes gloom and sad feelings. It can cause frustration.
7). White - is associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity. It is considered to be the colour of perfection. White means safety, purity, and cleanliness. White can represent a successful beginning. In heraldry, white depicts faith and purity. In advertising, white is associated with coolness and cleanliness because it’s the colour of snow. You can use white to suggest simplicity in high-tech products. White is an appropriate colour for charitable organisations; angels are usually imagined wearing white clothes. White is associated with hospitals, doctors, and sterility, so you can use white to suggest safety when promoting medical products. White is often associated with low weight, low-fat food, and dairy products.
18). Black - it is associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery. Black is a mysterious colour associated with fear and the unknown. It usually has a negative connotation (blacklist, black humour, ‘black death’). Black denotes strength and authority; it is considered to be a very formal, elegant, and prestigious colour (black tie, black Mercedes). In heraldry, black is the symbol of grief. Black gives the feeling of perspective and depth, but a black background diminishes readability. A black or grey background can make other colours stand out and it is well known that Black contrasts well with bright colours. Combined with red or orange (powerful colours) it gives a very aggressive colour scheme.
