Is red remarkable, respected and reliable? I’m going to look in detail at the meaning behind the glamorous color red.
The color red is full of meaning. The challenge is using it positively when it has many negative words attach to it. Are you “Seeing Red” or will you be “Painting The Town Red” By the end of our analysis?
In today’s article, I’m going to look in detail at the meaning behind the glamorous color red. Additionally I’m going to break apart a few myths and then look at how red could be used in a powerful way to enhance your branding if you are wanting to build a new business.
Red Branding & Design
Do you want to know the psychological meaning of any other color? Maybe you’re curious about why some colors work better than others in design? Which color would best represent your business? You will love the highly respected article called The Meaning Of Colors.
For an example of the use of Burgundy red in design take a look at this web site I built last year in my portfolio. The Website is called Dorset House Clearance.
Red Color Scheme From Nature
One of the delights is to take a color scheme just from nature. One of my favorite tips is to go out with your camera and look at colors all around you. Take several photos. Then see the digital photo on your screen at home. From this you can easily chose a complimentary color palette.
If you are looking for inspiration. Colors schemes are all around you. For example here is my photo of natural red.
I now go to coolors.co and if you click “Generate”. You will then see an icon of a camera (top right). From here I will upload my photo.
This is a very cool way to find complimentary colors from one of your own photos. When I’m looking for a color scheme, I try to get some good contrasting colors and at the same time make sure they compliment the main color.
Here is my example.
Feel free to use the hex numbers in your design if you like it, and let me know where I can view it in the comments below.
Red color psychology branding
Red is used by various companies in there logos. McDonald’s, Canon, YouTube, The Salvation Army, Colgate Levi Jeans, Avis Car hire, Virgin, Time magazine, KFC, CNN News. These are all popular brands that have successfully used the color red.
8% Men chose red as their favourite color
Live Science
9% Women chose red as their favourite color
Negative meanings for red include:
As mentioned red can be a negative color. It means stop with traffic lights or red can mean danger. The color red means anger for some people, or just a warning. Its even been associated with a profession involving a red light.
Positive meanings for red include:
Red can be so positive. Words such as stimulating, exciting, powerful, passionate, driven, courageous and strong are all very inspiring. Red has other positive words such as action, energy and determination.
Other facts about red
The word “ruby” comes from the Latin word Rubens, meaning “red”.
A “Red Herring”, is for some reason associated with diverting the attention of someone with a less important fact.
The color red doesn’t really make bulls angry; they are color-blind.
Roll out the “Red carpet” would imply someone is very special.
A “Red sky at night, shepherds delight” is meant to mean it will be pleasant whether the following day. Though “Red Sky in Morning is a shepherds warning”
So here is a red color psychology question for you. What does red mean to you?
Do you see red as a negative? The stop sign or halt sign on a road is red. Or traffic lights use red for stop. Or is the meaning of Red a positive feeling for you, symbolising hot and exciting? We would love to hear from you so feel free to comment your thoughts below.