Discover the Meanings of Colors
Have you ever stopped and wondered why you choose certain colors of your clothes? May
be a small child has asked you why policemen wear blue uniforms.
Perhaps you have even wondered why people in the design field use
certain colors. In this article I will try to shed some light on the
meaning of colors.
Black
Power, authority, elegance, strength, formality, mystery, death, evil, submission
Black signifies the bad guy and fear of the unknown. On the other hand,
black can be elegant and powerful, such as a black Tux or expensive
car. Black is a good color to make other colors stand out when on
display.
White
Light, safety, goodness, innocence, purity, cleanliness, faith
White usually signifies the good guy. The medical profession uses white
to suggest sterile and safety. Angels, snow, and dairy products are
usually associated with white.
Yellow
Joy, happiness, intellect, energy, caution, warmth, cheer
Yellow is a warm cheerful color. It is associated with the sun. Yellow
is a good color to use for projects that are humorous, friendly, or
exciting. Yellow is also used to get our attention and warn us of
danger. When over used yellow has the opposite effect on people.
Orange
Energy, happiness, enthusiasm, fascination, creativity, determination, attraction, success, encouragement, stimulation
Orange is another highly visible color used to attract attention. A lot
of foods and toys are orange. Orange in the food industry is associated
with being healthy.
Red
Energy, war, danger, strength, power, determination, passion, desire, love, romance, vitality, earthly
Red is another color that grabs our attention. Since it is a high
visibility color red is used to signal danger. Some people associate
red with aggressive behavior. Red is also used to entice people into
making quick decisions.
Purple
Stability, energy, power, magic, nobility, luxury,
sophistication, ambition, wealth, wisdom, extravagance, dignity,
creativity, mystery, independence
Magicians and Royalty are often identified with purple. Different
shades and tints of purple can evoke feelings of romance or being
nostalgic.
Blue
Wisdom, loyalty, confidence, tranquility, intelligence, faith, truth, sincerity, heaven,
calmness, peaceful
Blue is associated with law, order, and honesty. Hence police, banks,
and hospitals. Blue is a cool color, like water and the sky. Blue is
not used often for food items because it makes food unappetizing.
Green
Growth, nature, harmony, life, freshness, fertility, safety, calm, refreshing
Green is a fresh non threatening color. It is perceived as a restful,
non threatening color. Green can signify endurance, safety, and
stability. The color green is associated with money.
There you have it, my interpretation of what colors mean. I’m sure
someone else has another idea on color meanings. Other countries attach
different meanings to colors than we do in America. But, I think I will
leave that for another time.
Article by Joann Snell ©2007, March 30, 2007
Jo’s Graphic Designs
http://www.josgraphicdesigns.com