The Magical Power of Color

Welcome back to the Rainbow Reflections newsletter.

Our latest podcast episode is about my favorite tool in my design toolkit–color! In the show, I explored the fascinating world of color, color theory, color psychology, and their crucial roles in branding and web design.

I was inspired to create this episode because of a post on Instagram I saw a few months back. In it, a designer dismissed color psychology as “bullshit…” which, in turn, set off my bullshit meters. I wholeheartedly disagree with their opinion, and aim to showcase why it's a misguided opinion through the facts and information I share in the episode and this newsletter.

Catch the episode via the links below for all the details.

I was inspired to create this episode because of a post on Instagram I saw a few months back. In it, a designer dismissed color psychology as “bullshit…” which, in turn, set off my bullshit meters. I wholeheartedly disagree with their opinion, and aim to showcase why it's a misguided opinion through the facts and information I share in the episode and this newsletter.

UNDERSTANDING COLOR THEORY

I'm sure for most of you this is something you're already familiar with. That being said, it never hurts to review the basics!  Understanding how colors interact with each other is essential for creating visually appealing and effective designs.

Basics of Color Theory:

• Primary Colors: Red, blue, and yellow.

• Secondary Colors: Green, orange, and purple (created by mixing primary colors).

• Tertiary Colors: Combinations of primary and secondary colors (like red-orange or blue-green).

Color Harmonies:

• Complementary: Colors opposite each other on the color wheel (e.g., blue and orange).

• Analogous: Colors next to each other on the color wheel (e.g., blue, blue-green, and green).

• Triadic: Three colors evenly spaced around the color wheel.

• Tetradic: Four colors arranged into two complementary pairs.

Color Properties:

• Hue: The color itself (e.g., red, blue).

• Saturation: The intensity of the color (vivid or muted).

• Brightness: How light or dark the color is.

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF COLOR

Color psychology is the study of how colors affect human behavior and emotions. Different colors can evoke different feelings and responses, which can influence our perceptions and actions, often on a subconscious level.

Here is a general overview of colors and their psychological associations:

• Red: Energy, passion, sensuality

• Pink: Love, fertility, sexiness

• Orange: Communication, spontaneity, playfulness

• Yellow: Happiness, optimism, attention

• Green: Health, tranquility, growth

• Blue: Confidence, trust, stability,

• Purple: Spirituality, creativity, mystery

It's important to keep in mind though that a lot of the general color psychology interpretations we have are based on a western perspective. Color is pervasive across cultures and has different meanings in different areas of the world. A great example of this is white, which in western culture is associated with purity while it is associated with mourning in many Asian countries.

This means it's super important to understand the demographics of where your clients are located and what cultures they may or may not be associated with. This is also true for your client's target audiences. This information will inform how you can apply color best to create positive associations with their audience.

WHY COLOR PSYCHOLOGY MATTERS 

Color psychology is important to understand and utilize as a tool in design work because of the way it's processed by humans in their brains. 

 When light enters our eyes, it hits the retina, where photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) convert it into electrical signals. These signals travel through the optic nerve to the brain. The primary visual cortex processes these signals, allowing us to perceive color. This process happens incredibly fast, often before we consciously recognize what we’re seeing. This rapid processing explains why color can make such an immediate and powerful impression on us.

 Ultimately, this means that we can affect the way our audiences interact with our brand on a subconscious level through the use of color.

CONCLUSION

 We've only just scratched the surface of color in today's podcast episode and newsletter. Next week, we'll dive deep into astrological color associations and how we can use the stars to influence our color choices in our brands. Stay tuned to learn more about color and ways to incorporate it to create more meaning in your business.

Wishing You Rainbows,