Color psychology is the study of hues as a determinant of human behavior. Colors can cause certain emotional reactions, and even influence perceptions that are not necessarily conscious. Color psychology is used all around us, taking its cues from nature, and should be considered in marketing and branding. The following are just some common color associations.
- Blue – calm, tranquil, refreshing, stable, responsible, peaceful, relaxing, sad
- Green – environmental, healthy, lucky, growth, finances, harmony, soothing, renewal
- Purple – royal, luxurious, intriguing, magical, mysterious, military honor, wealth, spiritual
- Red – passionate, high energy, love, warmth, fire, war, anger, danger, confidence
- Orange – young, affordable, vitality, friendly, humorous, seasonal
- Yellow – energizing, happy, caution, youthful, playful, cheerful, friendly
- Pink – fun, feminine, upbeat, sweet, delicate, romantic, peaceful
- Gray – neutral, professional, efficient, formal, corporate
- Black – luxurious, powerful, formal, elegant, darkness, mysterious, sexual, creepy
- White – clean, pure, blank, simple, honorable, peaceful, bland, cold, young
- Brown – reliable, old-fashioned, earthy, masculine, natural, dependable, warm
Comical Global Branding Fails
Even the biggest brands can make mistakes when bringing their brand to new markets. A company should always carefully research and identify any cultural differences, or language translations, when expanding their business. You want to catch any possible missteps before they happen. Here are some epic fails for a good laugh. Coca-Cola When first launched…
What is Branding?
Branding is all of the ways you establish an image of your company in your customers’ eyes and minds. It’s your “what”, your “how”, and your “why”. Your description of what you offer, the colors associated with your business, your visual identity, your website, your advertising, your collateral and your social media presence—these are all…
The Difference Between Graphic Art and Graphic Design
Graphic Art – the fine and applied art of representation, decoration, and writing or printing on flat surfaces together with the techniques and crafts associated with them. Essentially, a graphic artist may create art for the sake of art. They may want to convey a certain idea or story, or they may not. Graphic artists…
Why Colors Matter
When choosing colors for your brand, there is a lot to consider. Certain colors are often associated with certain traits or even expectations the public may have as it relates to what your organization offers. These associations can bridge the gap between your branding materials and target audiences. Just because your favorite color is fluorescent…
Avoid These 6 Branding Mistakes
Not getting the logo right. Designing a logo yourself (just for now) may seem like a good idea, at first. But, changing a logo mid-stream can be complicated. If you aren’t widely recognized, you could lose what brand equity you may have already established. If you are, you could confuse, alienate and ultimately lose your…
How Dunkin’ Successfully Rebranded in 2019
The history of Dunkin’ began with a restaurant called “Open Kettle” in Massachusetts, in 1948. Founder William Rosenberg served donuts for five cents and premium cups of coffee for ten cents. Rosenberg renamed his restaurant “Dunkin’ Donuts” in 1950, and franchised his brand in 1955. Since 1950, the number of Dunkin’ restaurants has increased to…
How Decades of Solid Branding Saved Coca-Cola from the Pepsi Challenge
The Pepsi Challenge was a marketing campaign started in 1975. It was simply a blind taste test between Pepsi and Coca-Cola, touting that even Coca-Cola fans choose Pepsi. It was a wildly successful marketing strategy that they revisited for decades. Coca-Cola even ran their own private tastes test, through which they found Pepsi was indeed…
5 Reasons Successful Branding is Important
Branding clearly delivers your message. Branding emotionally connects your target audience with what you offer. Branding motivates your audience to create a connection. Branding reinforces your credibility. Branding creates loyalty. Bonus – Branding helps you stand out in a crowd.
