It is widely accepted that colours are an effective tool and have a role to play in non-verbal communication. Colour Psychology is an important element of colour theory however scientific researches linked to it are not fully developed till now.
“Colours, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.”
This was Pablo Picasso, a renowned Spanish painter, who often embedded the “blue” colour or hues in his paintings to revive a particular feeling.
In 1974, Keith Jacobs and Frank Hustmsyer conducted research demonstrating that colours can affect our heart rate and blood pressure.
Anyhow, there are certain colours which are connected with eliciting a particular emotion or feeling. For instance, the colour blue has been associated with blue skies which evoke a positive feeling, maybe from our childhood when we played outside.
The influence a colour has on every person is subjective. However, some of them are universally accepted. We’ll be primarily focusing on rainbow colours and their connotations.
1. Red
Many cultures have related the colour red with danger. It is one of the reasons why traffic signals use red colour- our body reacts immediately and we pay attention to it.
There is also a scientific reason behind it that our brain cells responsible for color vision are engineered to react more to the red colour. Hence, red draws our attention faster.
Red is also associated with aggression. It may be due to the fact that it is used in bullfighting. It also increases our blood pressure and metabolism, almost pushing us in a defensive or attentive mode.
2. Green
Green is a colour most visible in nature. So, it signifies harmony, self-reliance and balance. It is also often connected with money and the “go” sign on a traffic light.
Apart from this, it is also used in the business world to demonstrate a healthy environment. It suggests organic, safe and environmentally-friendly products.
It is also naturally peaceful for the eyes. Green induces the slightest amount of eyestrain.
While it is a symbol of growth and security, it is definitely not related to sweetness. Nestle recently launched a Matcha Green Tea flavoured chocolate. The bar is green in colour and looks, honestly, extremely odd, stimulating no indications of dessert-like sweetness.
3. Blue
Being exactly opposite of the red color, blue is a colour of calmness, peace and tranquillity. It is said to reduce metabolism and blood pressure. Blue skies, blue clothes and blue books- all impart a calming effect on a human brain.
The soothing effect blue colour has on people was so strongly supported that a Tokyo’s Railway Line put in blue lights at the end of the platform to reduce the cases of suicides.
The results were positive as suicide rates declined by almost 70% in the places where these lights were installed.
4. Purple
Although purple is often related with imagination and creativity, eliciting the magical effect, as it rarely appears in nature, purple is considered as artificial.
The connotations are also pertaining to introspective mood where you may indulge in self-reflections and connect with your own thoughts.
In the corporate world, purple symbolises the richness and quality of a product. Marketing employees often use it in coupons and premium services to attract customers’ attention.
5. Yellow
Vincent Van Gogh said, “How wonder Yellow is, it stands for the sun.”
Yellow is often connected with spring time. It is also the poets’ favourite colour to show cheerfulness.
As it is the lightest colour of the spectrum, yellow is generally regarded as the colour of energy, brightness and light. It is considered as the happiest colour and often elicits a feeling of joke.
However, overuse of the colour yellow can also stimulate anxiety, apprehension, stress and agitation. Picture yourself in a field of sunflowers with the warm sun- sounds beautiful right? But if you are closed in a room with only bright yellow walls, it can stress you out.
6. Orange
Incorporating the energy stimulated by red and the cheerfulness propagated by yellow, orange marks optimism, confidence and encouragement.
It is a hue of enthusiasm and removes the aggressiveness of red while being able to catch the attention of people just the same.
