COLOR
SYMBOLISM
AND
MEANING
A PRIMER BY DESIGNS.AI

RED
1. Bold & powerful.
2. High visibility.
3. Draws intense emotional
response.
4. Heighten feelings of
excitement, anxiety, and thrill.
5. Intensification of emotion is
driven by deeper reds.
Original blog post here.

ORANGE
Original blog post here.
1. Invigorates & stimulates mental
activity.
2. Associated with warmth &
familiarity.
3. Evokes energy & playfulness,
good for targeting young people.
4. Associated with healthy food,
stimulates appetite.

YELLOW!
1. Light & bold.
2. Invokes happines in its purest form as the sunshine hue.
3. Attention-grabbing while still being lighthearted.
4. Can be disturbing if overused.
5. Sometimes referred to as a ‘childish color’.
6. Duller yellows tend to have negative associations.
Original blog post here.

GREEN
● Color of nature
● Instills a sense of growth, safety, and
stability
● Most restful color for the human eye
● Grocery stores utilize it to convey freshness
● Financial institutions utilize it to convey
prosperity & wealth
● Darker greens indicate jealousy, ambition, &
greed.
Original blog post here.

BLUE.
● Color of the sky & sea
● Strong associations to
vastness & depth
● Slows metabolism, has
calming effect
● Strong relationships with
religion
● Color of purity, goodness, &
faith
● Not recommended for food
industry as it decreases
appetite
● Linked to consciousness &
intellect
● Banks use blue to evoke trust
Original blog post here.

PURPLE
● Combines the stability of blue and
energy of red
● Works well with brands offering
high-end products
● Associated with peace & harmony,
good for imparting tranquility
● Evokes images of sacredness,
fulfillment, and a higher self
● Represents familiarity & nostalgia
Original blog post here.