What comes to your mind when you see the colour red? How would you respond if you see a logo of a hot and spicy food restaurant all in the colour blue?
Humans have better senses than any other creature on the planet. That means that we respond to certain things that others might think to be small or insignificant. A very good example is colour.
Over the years, brands have come to be identified in distinct colours. For example, everyone can relate to the red of Coca Cola or the bright yellow of DHL. In fact, it is almost impossible for us to relate to these brands if they are to come to us tomorrow in another colour.
How Colours Affect Your Brand
Yes, it is your brand and you are at liberty to choose whatever colour you see fit, however, there are rules you must play by else your abuse your power to choose.
The most important rule is to know how the society around you perceives a certain colour. While it varies, here is a list of some colours and what they are generally accepted to mean.
RED
This is commonly associated with boldness, passion and heat. Now you know why most fast-foods and restaurants like the famous McDonalds have a healthy dose of the colour red.
BLUE
Generally, this is used to depict calmness. It is also associated with truth and dependableness. Little wonder Nigerian banks like First Bank and Union Bank features this colour.
YELLOW
This colour is associated with warmth and clarity, it is used to show happiness and good feeling, like the jolly emojis. Food brands also use this colour to express feelings of excitement.
GREEN
Generally, this is accepted as the colour of life. It is used to depict health and nature so if your brand is centred on health or nature, the colour green is a must feature.
PURPLE
When purple is associated with a brand, what comes to mind first is class and royalty. Historically, the purple dye was expensive to obtain so only the rich could afford it and it has ever since then been associated with affluence.
Think of branding as your identity, it speaks on your behalf. Be careful not to create the wrong impression by using the wrong colour. Yes, it might be your favourite colour but it might not be the best suiting for your brand. Knowing how to select colour definitely can make or break your brand.