Color is Personal: The Symbolic Meaning of Color
Researching the symbolic value of color provides funny facts.
For example, blue is the political color of the right-wing VVD in the Netherlands. But in the USA, the blue states are the states that vote for the democratic party. Red is the political color of the left-wing PvdA in the Netherlands. But in the USA, the red states are the states that vote for the republican party.
Blue is, with red as a close second, the color most commonly used in corporate identity. Of course, I assume that we do not see black as a color. Which is true - black and white are not considered colors. One is all colors together, the other the lack of color.
Color is personal
As a graphic designer I made all my logo designs primarily in black. The main reason being that for me form is more important than color. The second reason was that color is so personal. A color I love, can be your most hated one. I didn’t want my clients to reject a sketch because they didn’t like the color.
As adults, we may have preferences for certain colors, but are not very strong for one specific favorite color. Like children often do.
Color is symbolic
A third reason for my reluctance with colored design was that symbolic values differ in the various countries. So the client had to think of where his logo would be visible. What groups would be his or her main clients: men or women, kind of religion, what nationality?
Most were inclined to prefer their own colors, (or their spouse's, LOL) but things could be interpreted the wrong way. Look at the political colors in the Netherlands and the States!
By the way, isn’t it funny that in the States blue is democratic and red republican, but that CNN’s logo is red and Fox News is blue? As if they want to point out they are neutral!
The conventions of color
Why is blue the most used color in corporate design? In general, blue is linked to tranquility, harmony, fidelity, friendship and loyalty.
A lot of banks have blue as a corporate color. Years ago a Dutch savings bank wanted to stand out and had black and salmon-pink as colors. Not for long though. Now they have black and turquoise. It’s still different from most banks, but it’s closer to blue.
Blue and red
From the Catholic tradition, blue is associated with pure or pristine. See Mary's blue dress, blue as a divine color. Where red was the color of humanity. In the Middle Ages, Christ was usually portrayed wearing a vermilion robe. And the cardinals wore cardinal red or scarlet red.
Red is the color of the sacrifice, the martyrs who gave their blood. The "throat" of the Crusaders. The red rosette that soldiers had on their clothes - the blood from a wound - to show that they had been brave.
- In the Anglo-Saxon countries, blue belongs to melancholy or sadness - the blues.
- Negative numbers are usually marked with red. The color of alarm; the red fire trucks, the red traffic light.
- Blue is for boys, pink (is a light shade of red) for girls.
- Uniforms are often blue.
- Blue, especially ultramarine and lapis lazuli, were the colors of the wealthy rulers. Who also have blue blood.
Red is the color of love - red roses. The red heart, but also the red light district. And the red carpet for official events and parties as the color of the rich and famous. The seats in the opera houses and theaters that are usually velvet red.
Blue is a cold color in the color circle and is used as a symbol on the cold water tap. Red is considered a warm color and therefore on the hot water tap.
Yves Klein dedicated his life to the search for a specific shade of blue and eventually took a patent on it.
Some sayings and customs:
- "True blue" is a saying in the USA for someone who is loyal.
- A bride in England wears "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue", where the blue stands for being loyal and faithful.
- Sinterklaas and Santa Claus are wearing a bright red suit.
- In China red is the color of happiness and celebration.
- Football players get a red card if they make a mistake.
Colors
A lot can be said about other colors than red and blue. Purple and pink are often considered feminine colors. Although pink is also a gay color. Or was, because nowadays the LBGT community has adopted the rainbow.
Green is an ecological color. It is the color of life, renewal and nature. But it is also connected with money, ambition, greed and jealousy. Maybe in your country it doesn’t have that association at all?
What symbolic value do you add to a color?
Recent Comments
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Funny how colors have an emotional reaction. I love color though. I never noticed the colors/implications of FOX/CNN. Interesting insight. Thanks for sharing this post.
~Debbi
😘 Thank you so much, Debbi
BTW it's just something that struck me as odd. Surely not something Fox or CNN did on purpose. At least, I don't think so. :)
That's interesting you use black for all your logos. I love color. I don't go with red or blue though for the same reasons, though. They are very polarizing. lol. I use a green on my 'health' site but it's not money green, more of a 'health green' if there is one. Great article. Thank you.
Paula
😘 Thank you so much.
In the end almost all of my designs did get a color, Paula, or 2. It was in the sketching phase I only used black, so any color would be applicable (except yellow, but that was for contrast reasons).
Yes, I can imagine you use green on your health site. As did I, in combination with blue. :)
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Good Morning Hannie,
This was a great read.
Unusual this CNN/FOX, perhaps they have evolved over time but forgot to change the color? Only these past 5 years I have been more interested in America and what is happening there, but the reason is Michael, of course. I have to know what he is talking about.
It is also important what color your website is, the first impression of your visitor.
Greetings from the south of Spain,
Taetske
Tom even wants to live in the States, ever since our first visit in 1991, so we talk a lot about that country at breakfast of lunch :)
I don't think the TVstations really chose their color because of any political meaning. Rather for the symbolic meaning of calm and thrustworthy (blue) and energetic and active (red). :-D
Once you're interested in the symbolism of color, you'll see it in the strangest places, you'll notice!