Posted on February 26, 2010.
Color successful yourself: The power of color in the image Color communicates. It can provide guidance and clarity. When language can not offer the color of useful associations with people, places and things. Shamrock green. Fire engine red. yellow school buses. Midnight Black. Blue sky. Simply reading these colors evokes distinct feelings. Color induces subtle emotions, and causes powerful responses. Because the impact of color is so deep, its role in the design and branding is essential - and can achieve extraordinary results.
Over time, the wise use and consistent color becomes emblematic of the brand, and can be as powerful as a login name and logo. Automotive icon Enzo Ferrari once said its namesake sports car, "This is not a Ferrari if it is not red. And, of course, Ferraris are not usually red, they are Rosso Corsa (red race) - the official of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile Racing designated colors of Italy. All of a sudden one bright color identifies the company and products, symbolizes their purpose, and creates an emotional connection with a whole nation to embody its proud racing heritage. The effects are profound. Ferrari is one example of many major global brands that have used the associative and emotional impact of color to create an advantage. Think UPS brown, or blue Tiffany & Co..
So, if color is communication your brand name, which is to say? The truth is different things to different people. While we all see the same colors, we interpret and remember them through the prism of our different experiences. What some see as a beautiful yellow ocher others may consider as well, vomit. And, despite the assertion of Enzo, a lot of people do not like red for a car - even a Ferrari. Ultimately, color is subjective. So what do you consider the color options that will represent your company? Start by keeping these tips in mind:
1) Choose a color, you can own: it is red, green or periwinkle, consider a single color to your industry. Color associations brand recognition and increase brand equity building. A distinctive blue box confirms that this is not within normal ball, but a ball of Tiffany. The difference in perception is important, before the box is still open, and the gift revealed.
2) Understanding the cultural significance: color connotations vary considerably between disparate cultures. Be aware of the associations and aggregation of positive and negative. For example, the U.S. white symbolizes purity, as in a wedding dress. However, in many Eastern cultures, white connotes death and mourning - a potentially valuable bit of information only if you are expanding into Asian markets, or targeting a population of Asia.
3) Consistency is king: What print, pixel, or painting on paper or fabric screen, your palette should be consistent. Your logo should appear the same color on your business card as it does on your label or embroidery on a uniform. corporate colors are sacred. Coca Cola Coca Cola red is not red-orange.
4) Understand the impact of technology and production processes: the electronic file formats change color in different ways. A CMYK. Eps established for printing does not color the same way as an RGB. Jpg for graphics to the screen. Changes will also occur between the printing process and print colors. Laying cons uncoated papers, and even brilliant finish from gray, can completely change the complexion of the color. The differences can be significant - and detrimental - if not careful.
5) Consider the costs: a mixture of a single color from scratch can certainly produce results one-of-a-kind. However, the cost of color reproduction for all applications can become expensive, and custom mixes are often difficult to manage, and more likely to cause errors. distinctive colors, and themes of color, can be had using.