Color psychology can play a very important role in your design. Weather you are re-designing your current business signage, or perhaps you are looking to purchase for a creative project. Do not overlook the importance of selecting the best colors to help convey your message to your audience.
Though there are a large number of factors that can influence a customer’s purchase decisions, a great deal is aided by visual clues, the most influential of which being color. Colors shape our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. They can invoke as much as an 80 percent change in motivation when it comes to advertising, and marketing campaigns.
Although some colors have universal meaning, colors that attract shoppers in North America are different from those that attract shoppers in Asia. This short post will cover the 10 most popular colors used in advertising and marketing in North America and the effects they can have on influencing a decision.
Yellow
Marketing
- Optimistic and youthful
- Often used to grab attention of window shoppers
- Shows clarity
Personality / Emotions
- Increases cheerfulness, warmth
- Stimulated mental processes
- Stimulates nervous system
- Encourages communication
Red
Marketing
- Increases heart rate
- Used by restaurants to stimulate appetite
- Creates urgency often seen in store clearance designs
Personality / Emotions
- Evokes strong emotions
- Encourages appetite
- Increases passion and intensity
- Red roses symbolize love
Blue
Marketing
- Often used in corporate business graphics because it’s productive and non-invasive
- Creates a sense of security and trust
Personality / Emotions
- Associated with water / peace
- Most preferred by men
- Represents calmness or serenity
- Increases productivity
- Most used color for offices
Green
Marketing
- Used to relax in stores
- Associated with the wealthy
- The easiest color for the eye to process
Personality / Emotions
- Healthy & tranqulity
- Symbolizes money
- Denotes nature
- Alleviated depression
- Represents new growth
Orange
Marketing
- Found in impulsive shoppers
- Creates a strong call to action: Buy, Sell, Subscribe
- Represents a friendly, cheerful brand
- Creates a sense of affordability
Personality / Emotions
- Reflects excitement, enthusiasm
- Shows warmth
- Warns of caution
Pink
Marketing
- A feminine color that conjures feelings of innocence and delicateness
- Often used in logo’s and signage to add a feminine flair
- Used to market products to women
Personality / Emotions
- Nurturing and physically soothing
- Positive
- Femininity
Black
Marketing
- Powerful and Sleek
- Used to market luxury products
- Boldness, simplicity
Personality / Emotions
- Sophistication
- Glamor
- Sense of security
- Authoritative
Purple
Marketing
- Often used in beauty and anti-aging products
- Used to soothe or calm
- Represents a creative, imaginative brand
- Implies royalty and sophistication
Personality / Emotions
- Expensive
- Regal
- Nobility
- Wealth
Brown
Marketing
- Brown indicates nature and utility
- Imparts a sense of calmness
Personality / Emotions
- Simplicity
- Richness
- Depth
- Calmness
Grey
Marketing
- Neutral and cool
- Often used in interior business signage
- Works well with most colors
Personality / Emotions
- Corporate
- Authority
- Practicality
- Respect
- Stableness
