Color Psychology in Logo Design

COLOUR PSYCHOLOGY
IN LOGO DESIGN
Our minds are inherently programmed to respond to colour. They shape our thoughts and emotions. And according to studies, colour affects more than mood — it has the ability to change our buying habits. Colour can invoke as much as an 80 per cent change in motivation when it comes to online shopping, advertising, and marketing campaigns.

While perceptions of color are somewhat subjective, some color effects have universal meaning. Here are some examples of how different colours are perceived, and logos that were designed to aggressively or subtly reach their market.

->white

The universal colour of peace and purity. Find it in logos as reversed text or negative space.

Cleanliness
Innocence
Peace
Purity
Refined
Sterile
Simplicity
Surrender
Truthfulness

WWF

->yellow

Can have conflicting messages Bright and highly visible, it’s often used in logo design to get attention, create happiness and warmth.

Caution
Cheerful
Cowardice
Curiosity
Happiness
Joy
Playful
Positivity
Sunshine
Warmth

McDonald’s

-> red

An intense colour that can summon strong emotions from blood and warfare to love and passion. Used in logo design to grip the viewer’s attention and has been known to raise one’s blood pressure or make people hungry.

Action
Adventure
Aggressive
Blood
Danger
Drive
Energy
Excitement
Love
Passion
Strength
Vigor



Red Bull
ENERGY DRINK


-> orange
Combining red and yellow’s attributes, it’s often used to draw attention. Find it used in logos to create playfulness, stimulate emotions or even appetites.

Affordable
Creativity
Enthusiasm
Fun
Jovial
Lighthearted
High-Spirited
Youthful

NICKELODEON



Colors in the red area of the Color spectrum are known as warm colors end include red, orange end yellow These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility.

-> pink

A feminine color (hat conjures feelings of innocence and delicateness. Often used in logos to add a feminine flare.

Appreciation
Delicate
Femininity
Floral
Gentle
Girly
Gratitude
Innocence
Romantic
Soft
Tranquil

Barbie


-> purple
Implies royalty, mystery, spirituality and sophistication. As a combination of red and blue. It has both warn, and cool properties. Find it in many education related and luxury product logos.

Ceremony
Expensive
Fantasy
Justice
Mystery
Nobility
Regal
Royalty
Sophistication
Spirituality

Hallmark


Colors on the blue side of the spectrum are known as cool colors and include blue, purple and green. These colors are often described as calm, but can also call to mind feelings of sadness or indifference.



-> blue

A calming colour that and can stir up images of authority, success end security. Most people can say they like at least one shade of blue. The most popular color In logo design, it can be seen extensively in government, medical and Fortune 500 company logos,

Authority
Calm
Confidence
Dignity
Established
Loyalty
Power
Success
Secure
Serene
Trustworthy

IBM

->green
Represents life and renewal. It is a restful and soothing colour but can also represent jealousy and inexperience. You can often find it used in companies that want to portray themselves as eco friendly.

Crisp
Environmental
Fresh
Harmony
Health
Healing
Inexperience
Money
Nature
Renewal
Tranquility

ANIMAL
PLANET




-> brown
Brown indicates nature, woodiness, and utility. Brown is used in logos related to construction and legal logos due to its simplicity, warmth end neutrality.

Calmness
Depth
Earth
Natural
Roughness
Richness
Simplicity
Serious
Subtle
Utility
Woodsy

ups

->grey

Neutral and cool, grey is often used for the type within logos because it is neutral and works wall with most other colors.

Authority
Corporate
Dullness
Humility
Moody
Practicality
Respect
Somberness
Stableness


SWAROVSK I



-->black

Symbolizes menace Or evil, popular as an indicator of power. Found In many logos for its boldness, simplicity and sophistication.

Authority
Bold
Classic
Conservative
Distinctive
Formality
Mystery
Secrecy
Serious
Tradition

007


Colour is one of the most powerful forms of non-verbal communication designers use. Colour offers in instantaneous method For conveying meaning end messages in logo design. It’s important for designers to use colour appropriately and understand the meaning behind the colours they choose.

Next time you appreciate a logo design, take time to ponder the meaning of the colors chosen and how they were meant to influence your purchasing decisions

Infographic by Muse Design Inc.
www.musedesign.ca COLOUR PSYCHOLOGY IN LOGO DESIGN Our minds are inherently programmed to respond to colour. They shape our thoughts and emotions. And according to studies, colour affects more than mood - it has the ability to change our buying habits. Colour can invoke as much as an 80 per cent change in motivation when it comes to online shopping, advertising, and marketing campaigns. While perceptions of color are somewhat subjective, some color effects have universal meaning. Here are some examples of how different colours are perceived, and logos that were designed to aggressively or subtly reach their market. white The universal colour of peace and purity. Find it in logos as reversed text or negative space. Cleanliness Innocence Peace Purity Refined yellow Can have conflicting messages. Bright and highly visible, it's often used in logo design to get attention, create happiness and warmth. WWF® Sterile Simplicity Surrender Truthfulness Caution Cheerful Cowardice Curiosity Happiness Joy Playful Positivity McDonald's orange Combining red and yellow's attributes, it's often used to draw attention. Find it used in logos to create playfulness, stimulate emotions or even appetites. Sunshine Warmth NICKELODEON red An intense colour that can summon strong emotions from blood and warfare to love and passion. Used in logo design to grip the viewer's attention and Affordable Creativity Enthusiasm Fun Jovial Lighthearted High-Spirited Youthful Red Bull has been known to raise one's blood pressure or make people hungry. ENERGY DRINK Opink Action Adventure Aggressive Blood Danger A feminine color that Colors in the red area of the color spectrum are known as warm colors and include red, orange and yellow. These warm colors evoke emotions ranging from feelings of warmth and comfort to feelings of anger and hostility. conjures feelings of innocence and delicateness. Often used in logos to add a feminine flare. Drive Energy Excitement Appreciation Delicate Femininity Floral Gentle Love Passion Barbie Strength Vigor Girly Gratitude purple Innocence Romantic Soft Implies royalty, mystery, spirituality and sophistication. As a combination of red and blue, it has both warm and cool properties. Find it in many education related and luxury product logos. Tranquil Hallmark blue Colors on the blue side of the spectrum are known as cool colors and include blue, purple and green. These colors are often described as calm, but can also call to mind feelings of sadness or indifference. A calming colour that and can stir up images of authority, success and security. Most le can say they Ceremony Expensive Fantasy Justice Mystery Nobility Regal Royalty Sophistication Spirituality people like at least one shade of blue. The most popular color in logo design, it can be seen extensively in government, medical and Fortune 500 company logos. Authority Calm IBM green Rpresents life and renewal. It is a and soothing colour but can also represent jealousy and inexperience. You can often find it used in companies that want to portray themselves as eco-friendly. ANEM Confidence Dignity Established Loyalty Power Success Secure Serene Trustworthy PLANET brown Crisp Environmental Fresh Harmony Health Brown indicates nature, woodiness, and utility. Brown is used in logos related to construction and legal logos due to its simplicity, warmth and neutrality. Healing Inexperience Money Nature ups Renewal Tranquility Calmness Depth Earth Natural Roughness Richness Simplicity Serious Subtle Utility Woodsy grey Neutral and cool, grey is often used for the type within logos because it is neutral and works well with most other colors. SWAROVSKI black Authority Corporate Dullness Humility Moody Practicality Respect Somberness Stableness Symbolizes menace or evil, popular as an indicator of power. Found in many logos for its boldness, simplicity and sophistication. 007F Authority Bold Classic Conservative Distinctive Formality Mystery Secrecy Serious Tradition Colour is one of the most powerful forms of non-verbal communication designers use. Colour offers an instantaneous method for conveying meaning and messages in logo design. It's important for designers to use colour appropriately and understand the meaning behind the colours they choose. Next time you appreciate a logo design, take time to ponder the meaning of the colours chosen and how they were meant to influence your purchasing decisions. Infographic by Muse Design inc www.musedesign.ca