Did you know that the colours you choose when designing your new logo say a lot about you and your business? You need to consider the science of colour before going to the great expense of building your business. Doing so can and most likely will help you to succeed.
We have all seen thousands of logos over the years, some great and some very bad. Colour plays a huge part in how your business is seen so please take note of the following, then get a logo designed that you are proud of and start promoting it like crazy.
Of course this is not an exact science but I have tried to offer advice where needed about how well the colours print onto promotional gifts.
Black: The colour black is seen in many logos. It is a very powerful colour that screams authority and style. It is no wonder so many companies want black to represent them in their logo. You will not have any problems printing black.
White: White is very often used in logos because it is so bright and easily read when printed onto different promotional gifts and other promotional material. White represents purity and innocence. It is often used in industries where sterility is important.
Red: Red is red! It is a fast car or a hot fire. It is a very intense colour which can just as easily bring a message of aggressiveness as it can a message of strength or passion. Remember the red tie boom of the 80s? Red demands respect and it is very often used in logos for that reason. However, printing red onto some promotional gifts can be difficult if not impossible. When printed onto the black background of a pen or a navy t-shirt, it can often look like a deep rusty burgundy. There are some products such as photo mugs and mouse mats where the colour red looks fantastic but beware that you could be limiting yourself when it comes to promoting your brand.
Pink: Pink is feminine. It is one of the first things many of us learned as kids. Blue it for boys and pink is for girls as it is a soft and innocent colour. It is sugar and spice and everything nice. It is no wonder that so many spas, cosmetic firms and beauty salons use pink in their logos. It is worth noting that a light pink prints very well on darker backgrounds unlike the more vicious red mentioned earlier.
Blue: Blue commands trust, respect and authority. It is a safe colour that looks fantastic when teamed with many other colours. From experience, I would say that blue features in the majority of logos. It is a faithful colour that makes people feel secure.
Orange: If you are looking for a no hassle hot way of promoting your new business, then orange is a good option. Like red, it is used often to show energy and demand attention from people who see it. Unlike red, it prints quite well on dark backgrounds especially the lighter orange colours. Orange is a very contemporary colour that should definitely be considered if you are hoping to go boldly into the big world with your new business.
Green: This is a very popular colour at the moment. It has a calming nature similar to a walk in the forest. Green highlights ecological issues and it prints quite well onto many promotional gifts. It is widely used in healthcare, holiday & leisure and construction companies because it gets people to think about their surroundings.
Yellow: Be careful choosing yellow. Yellow is the most difficult colour for the human eye to see. I once saw a promotional pen that was printed yellow on a white barrel. It looked terrible and the text was almost impossible to read. That said, it can look very good in moderation on dark backgrounds. Take care, however, if you use too much yellow in your logo it could actually be over powering. Yellow shows optimism. It is like a sunny day after a time of dark and dreary afternoons.
Purple: This fun colour is very rarely used in logos. Lately it has been used a little more but that will most likely change. It is one of the least used colours for promotional gifts such as t-shirts, mugs and pens. This could cause a problem for you when you start to promote your business. Purple does bring with it pictures of high rank and authority so if you are stuck on this colour it may still be a good choice.
Grey: Grey represents old age, maturity, modesty and even sadness. It is rarely seen in logos but if you are running a business that could appeal to the elderly or the conservative among us, it will print well on most promotional gifts.
I hope this article has been of interest to you. Please feel free to leave a comment.
Posted by Dan Toombs
