Color can affect the way we feel subconsciously.

There’s a whole science (and art) in the meanings of colors. As a designer, it’s essential to be aware of these color meanings to help you choose your colors wisely and tap into the magical power of color symbolism.

Video from Skillshare, to skip the intro and start at the list of colors with their meanings go to 1.18.

Color meanings are caused by psychological effects, biological conditioning and cultural developments. 

  • Red is for energy, passion and danger
  • Orange is for creativity, youth and enthusiasm
  • Yellow is for happiness, hope and spontaneity
  • Green is for nature, growth and harmony—but also wealth and stability
  • Blue is for calm, trust and intelligence
  • Purple is for luxury, mystery and spirituality
  • Pink is for femininity, playfulness and romance
  • Brown is for wholesomeness, warmth and honesty
  • Black is for elegance, power and sophistication
  • White is for minimalism and simplicity

Color meanings and the art of using color symbolism in 99designs.

Color meaning and psychology in GRAPH1X

The hidden meaning behind famous logo colors

Red attracts attention and evokes strong emotions, universally seen as representative of romance. Causes increased heart rate and appetite, as well as a sense of urgency.
Orange is associated with playfulness and enthusiasm. Activate brain activity, can also be seen as aggressive. Its friendliness and mental stimulation makes it great for inspiring consumers to take action.

Yellow is associated with happiness and optimism, like the classic “smiley face.” Cheerful and warm, which encourages communication.

Green represents growth, and evokes a feeling of relaxation and healing. It is the color of healthy vegetation, so it reminds viewers of nature and health. It is also associated with money and wealth.
Blue is associated with feelings of tranquility and security. It has also been proven that people are the most productive when they work in blue rooms.

Purple is commonly associated with wealth and luxury. It is also representative of fantasy, mystery, and magic, and can evoke a feeling of wisdom and imagination.

Pink is associated with femininity, and is generally used in logos for brands targeted to women. It is also associated with sweetness, and is seen in logos for sweet foods like ice cream and donuts.
Black is seen as a serious, no-frills color, and can evoke a feeling of sophistication. Although it might look plain, it is often used for luxury products because of its sense of elegance and glamour.

The use of mood boards, by 99designs

A mood board is like a collage containing a variety of images, text, and other objects that define your visual ideas and communicate your concepts. It can even work as a guide in developing a project. A mood board will help bring things into focus, your vision and the emotions you want to convey. It will also help you translate concepts and design.

Pinterest is a good way to create mood boards with various topics, like colors, typography, art … it is a good source of inspiration for your projects.

PANTONE color of the year of the last decade