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 Brand Consistency and Why is it Important?
Brand consistency means always delivering messages aligned with the core brand values in the same tone, presenting the brand’s visual language in a consistent way, and repeating the same colors throughout the cohesive brand experience. Over time, these elements become ingrained in the minds of consumers, and they’re more likely to remember your brand. Brand…
What Makes a Logo Successful?
A logo serves to represent your company through a visual image that can be easily understood and recognized. Logos generally involve symbols, stylized text, or both. A good logo should create memorable impressions on your target audience, and set your company apart from your competitors. So, what makes a logo successful? A successful logo will…
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…
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…
How Good Branding Saves Your Company Money
Many businesses make the mistake of throwing money at marketing without thinking enough about their brand, as a whole. Paid media campaigns might garner attention, but they can’t necessarily retain it and convert as many customers without solid branding. A company with a consistent, strong perception amongst audiences will always outperform competitors with the same…
Typefaces & Fonts Do More Than Transmit Words
Do the typefaces and fonts you choose for your brand materials matter? As long as it’s in a language the audience understands, they’ll get the intended message, right? Wrong. Typefaces and fonts are essentially the shapes of the letters. Shapes are multi-sensory, meaning they affect more than one of your senses and can easily elicit…
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…
