The Meaning of Colours the Meaning of Colours
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The Meaning of Colours The Meaning of Colours RED ORANGE Red is the colour of Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness fire and blood, so it of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the is associated with tropics. Orange represents enthusiasm, fascination, energy, war, danger, happiness, creativity, determination, attraction, strength, power, success, encouragement, and stimulation. determination as well as passion, To the human eye, orange is a very hot colour, so it desire, and love. gives the sensation of heat. Nevertheless, orange is not as aggressive as red. Orange increases oxygen Red is a very emotionally intense colour. It enhances supply to the brain, produces an invigorating effect, human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and and stimulates mental activity. It is highly accepted raises blood pressure. It has very high visibility, which among young people. As a citrus colour, orange is is why stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment are associated with healthy food and stimulates appetite. usually painted red. In heraldry, red is used to indicate Orange is the colour of fall and harvest. In heraldry, courage. It is a colour found in many national flags. orange is symbolic of strength and endurance. Red brings text and images to the foreground. Use it Orange has very as an accent colour to stimulate people to make quick high visibility, so decisions; it is a perfect colour for ‘Buy Now’ or ‘Click you can use it to Here’ buttons on Internet banners and websites. Red catch attention is widely used to indicate danger (high voltage signs, and highlight the traffic lights). This colour is also commonly associated most important with energy, so you can use it when promoting energy elements of your drinks, games, cars, items related to sports and high design. Orange is physical activity. very effective for promoting food Light red represents joy, passion, sensitivity, and love. products and toys. Pink signifies romance, love, and friendship. It denotes feminine qualities and passiveness. Dark orange can mean deceit and distrust. Dark red is associated with vigor, willpower, rage, Red-orange corresponds to desire, pleasure, anger, leadership, courage, longing, malice, and domination, aggression, and thirst for action. wrath. Gold evokes the feeling of prestige. The meaning of Brown suggests stability and denotes masculine gold is illumination, wisdom, and wealth. Gold often qualities. symbolizes high quality. Reddish-brown is associated with harvest and fall. YELLOW GREEN Yellow is the colour of Green is the colour of nature. It symbolizes growth, sunshine. It’s associated harmony, freshness, and fertility. Green has strong with joy, happiness, emotional correspondence with safety. Dark green is intellect, and energy. also commonly associated with money. Yellow produces a Green has great healing power. It is the most restful warming effect, arouses colour for the human eye; it can improve vision. Green cheerfulness, stimulates suggests stability and endurance. Sometimes green mental activity, and denotes lack of experience; for example, a ‘greenhorn’ generates muscle energy. Yellow is often associated is a novice. In heraldry, green indicates growth and with food. Bright, pure yellow is an attention getter, hope. Green, as opposed to red, means safety; it is the which is the reason taxicabs are painted this colour. colour of free passage in road traffic. When overused, yellow may have a disturbing effect; it is known that babies cry more in yellow rooms. Yellow is Use green to indicate safety when advertising drugs seen before other colours when placed against black; and medical products. Green is directly related to this combination is often used to issue a warning. In nature, so you can use it to promote ‘green’ products. heraldry, yellow indicates honor and loyalty. Later the Dull, darker green is commonly associated with meaning of yellow was connected with cowardice. money, the financial world, banking, and Wall Street. Use yellow to evoke pleasant, cheerful feelings. You can choose yellow to promote children’s products and items related to leisure. 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 lighthearted, ‘childish’ colour, so it is not recommended to use yellow when selling prestigious, expensive products to men – nobody will buy a yellow business suit or a yellow Mercedes. Yellow is an unstable and spontaneous colour, so avoid using yellow if you want to suggest stability and Dark green is associated with ambition, greed, and safety. Light yellow tends to disappear into white, so jealousy. it usually needs a dark colour to highlight it. Shades Yellow-green can indicate sickness, cowardice, of yellow are visually unappealing because they lose discord, and jealousy. cheerfulness and become dingy. Aqua is associated with emotional healing and Dull (dingy) yellow represents caution, decay, protection. sickness, and jealousy. Olive green is the traditional colour of peace. Light yellow is associated with intellect, freshness, and joy. BLUE Light blue is associated with health, healing, Blue is the colour of tranquility, understanding, and softness. the sky and sea. It is Dark blue represents knowledge, power, integrity, often associated with and seriousness. depth and stability. It symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, PURPLE intelligence, faith, truth, and heaven. Purple combines the stability of blue and the energy of red. Purple is associated with royalty. It symbolizes Blue is considered power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. It conveys wealth beneficial to the mind and extravagance. Purple is associated with wisdom, and body. It slows dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, and magic. human metabolism and According to surveys, almost 75 percent of pre- produces a calming adolescent children prefer purple to all other colours. effect. Blue is strongly associated with tranquility and Purple is a very rare colour in nature; some people calmness. In heraldry, blue is used to symbolize piety consider it to be artificial. and sincerity. You can use blue to promote products and services related to cleanliness (water purification filters, cleaning liquids, vodka), air and sky (airlines, airports, air conditioners), water and sea (sea voyages, mineral water). As opposed to emotionally warm colours like red, orange, and yellow; blue is linked to consciousness and intellect. Use blue to suggest precision when promoting high-tech products. If you do a lot of virtual meetings or conferencing, it is recommended you wear blue clothing and sit in front of a blue wall. Blue uses the least bandwidth and thus produces the clearest image for the viewer. Light purple is a good choice for a feminine design. You can use bright purple when promoting children’s Blue is a masculine colour; according to studies, it is products. highly accepted among males. Dark blue is associated with depth, expertise, and stability; it is a preferred Light purple evokes romantic and nostalgic feelings. colour for corporate America. Dark purple evokes gloom and sad feelings. It can Avoid using blue when promoting food and cooking, cause frustration. because blue suppresses appetite. When used together with warm colours like yellow or red, blue can create high-impact, vibrant designs; for example, blue-yellow-red is a perfect colour scheme for a superhero. WHITE BLACK White is associated with light, goodness, innocence, Black is associated purity, and virginity. It is considered to be the colour with power, elegance, of perfection. formality, death, evil, and mystery. Black is a mysterious colour associated with fear and the unknown (black holes). It usually has a negative connotation (blacklist, black humor, ‘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 suit or dress can make you look thinner. When designing White means safety, purity, and cleanliness. As for a gallery of art or photography, you can use a opposed to black, white usually has a positive black or gray background to make the other colours connotation. White can represent a successful stand out. Black contrasts well with bright colours. beginning. In heraldry, white depicts faith and purity. Combined with red or orange – other very powerful colours – black gives a very aggressive colour scheme. 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 organizations; 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. Accent Workplace & Learning Environments Canadian Offices • Winnipeg, Manitoba • Kitchener, Ontario United States Offices • Minneapolis, Minnesota • Pembina, North Dakota Phone 800.665.9378 Fax 866.296.4569 [email protected] www.accentenvironments.com.