The Color Psychology

Explore the meaning of colors and their emotional impact. Discover how colors influence our choices and emotions.

Written by Anthony Ripasarti, Creative Designer at Ezperanza.Studio.

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever wondered why certain colors soothe you while others make you feel anxious? Or why prominent brands use specific colors in their logos to influence your perception?

The answer lies in a fascinating field of psychology known as “color psychology.” In this article, we will delve into the profound importance of colors in our everyday lives, examining how they impact our emotions, choices, and reactions.

Discover how this discipline can have a significant impact on advertising, design, interior decoration, and much more. Get ready to immerse yourself in the captivating world of color psychology and understand why the shades that surround us play a much deeper role than meets the eye.

THE BRAIN

The influence of colors on our brain
Colors, often perceived as a purely aesthetic element, play a crucial role in our psychology and behaviour. Not only do they embellish our environment, they also have a direct influence on our brain and, by extension, on our emotions and behavior. Indeed, our decisions, whether about a product or a brand, are strongly influenced by color, so much so that 90% of our judgment about a product is based on its color.

Science behind colors
Every color we perceive is the result of light reflected by an object and captured by our eyes. The latter transmit information to the brain, which translates these signals into what we recognize as colors. But the process doesn’t stop there. When color is transmitted from the eye to the brain, the latter reacts by releasing hormones that can influence our physical, mental and emotional state. In this way, colors have the power to evoke positive or negative feelings.

Importance of harmony
Color harmony offers a pleasant, balanced visual experience. It engages the viewer by creating a sense of order. Our brains tend to reject what they can’t understand or organize. So, too much simplicity leads to under-stimulation, while too much complexity leads to over-stimulation. The ideal is to find a dynamic balance, i.e. harmony.

THE NATURE

A natural legacy
The colors we borrow from nature are not mere pigments; they are imbued with light, history and life. By looking through the prism of nature, we find an inexhaustible source of inspiration and harmony. Nature’s lessons in color are guides to a richer, more meaningful aesthetic.
Nature, in its purest essence, is a true artist, weaving vivid and inspiring canvases. She is a muse who teaches color harmony, offering free but invaluable lessons on how to capture the essence of the beauty that surrounds us. Nature serves as a canvas for human creativity and influences our search for balance and beauty in the creations we forge.

Natural chromatic diversity
The diversity of colors in nature is limitless, each landscape a living sampler, evolving with the seasons, offering renewed perspectives with every glance. Every creator draws on this infinity to enrich his or her palette, going beyond ephemeral trends to create timeless works.

A lesson in harmony and balance
Nature is never mistaken in its color combinations. She orchestrates visual symphonies where each element is in harmony with its neighbor. It’s in these perfect compositions that we humans find our inspiration to create spaces and objects that resonate with the same balance. By integrating these natural principles, our creations are aligned with a universal rhythm that is both inspiring and soothing.Each natural scene is a lesson in colorimetric mastery. The color harmony we find in nature is the result of complex evolution and ecological cohabitation. Making the connection between nature and color harmony means recognizing and applying the principles of balance, contrast and variety that make the natural world so visually fascinating and inspiring.

THE WHEEL

The color wheel
The color wheel is a visual representation of color. Its origins date back to the pioneering work of Sir Isaac Newton in the 18th century. By decomposing white light through a prism, Newton discovered that light was divided into a spectrum of colors.

Color grading
The color wheel is based on three types of color: primary, secondary and tertiary. The primary colors, red, blue and yellow, are the foundation of the circle. By mixing them, we obtain the secondary colors: orange, violet and green. Tertiary colors are the result of mixing primary and secondary colors.

Warm, cold and neutral
The color wheel can also be divided into warm and cool colors. Warm colors, such as red and orange, evoke energy and passion, while cool colors, such as blue and green, are associated with calm and serenity. Neutral colors, such as black, white and grays, offer balance and flexibility in design.

Color schemes
The color wheel is also a valuable guide to creating harmonious color combinations. Triadic combinations use three equidistant colors on the circle, offering high contrast while maintaining harmony. Complementary colors, located directly opposite each other on the circle, create maximum contrast and vibrant intensity. Analogous combinations, using adjacent colors, offer soft, pleasing harmony.

THE COLORAMA

8 colors to rule them all
The color wheel clearly identifies six shades of color, plus black and white. This ‘big eight’ colorama is widely used in communications. However, it’s essential not to use them arbitrarily, as each color carries a specific meaning and uniquely conveys its own emotions and messages.

Red
Red is an extrovert, passionate and vivid color. The color of fire and blood, it is associated with energy, war and danger, but also with courage, strength, power and determination, as well as passion, desire and love. It generates strong emotions, both positive and negative. Red is an emotionally intense color. It stimulates the human metabolism, increases respiratory rate and blood pressure.

Blue
Blue is the color of confidence and stability. It’s a cool, soothing color synonymous with performance and intelligence. One of the most popular colors, it also symbolizes trust, loyalty, wisdom, intelligence, faith, truth and paradise in certain beliefs. Blue is considered beneficial for the mind and body, as it reduces stress and creates a sense of calm, peace and order. Blue helps slow down the human metabolism and is refreshing in nature.

Yellow
Yellow is a warm color often associated with summer, and therefore with sunshine and joy. It can be used to evoke positivity, pleasant and happy feelings, or to create a sense of energy, optimism and creativity. Yellow is considered the happiest color in the world. It promotes learning, memory and decision-making. Studies have also shown that yellow can boost morale and self-esteem.

Black
Black is the color of power and sophistication. Black is an incredibly strong and intimidating color that exudes authority and makes us feel secure and protected. Often seen at formal and prestigious events, this mysterious marvel arouses and seduces our senses with its elegance and sexiness.

White
White is the color of purity and innocence. White is a true balance of all colors and is associated with cleanliness, simplicity and perfection. It loves to make others feel good and provides hope and clarity by refreshing and purifying the mind. It also promotes open-mindedness and self-reflection.

Green
Green is a color that symbolizes nature. Perhaps because of its strong associations with the natural world, green is often thought to represent tranquility, good luck, health and jealousy. The color of nature and life, green can also symbolize growth and renewal. Green is also synonymous with harmony, freshness and fertility. Green has a strong emotional correlation with security and constancy.

Purple
Purple is a combination of red and blue. The blend of these two powerful colors creates a beautiful vibration that has both physical and spiritual effects on us. Purple is the color of imagination. It stimulates our imagination and inspires high ideals. Purple is the ideal color for meditation, as it transforms spiritual energies into positive forces and stimulates consciousness.

Orange
Orange, a combination of yellow and red, is considered positive, energetic, enthusiastic and even mischievous. It’s the color of creativity and originality, inspiring feelings of warmth and achievement; it’s associated with ambition, encouragement, stimulation and new ideas. Orange is said to have an invigorating effect, stimulating mental activity. It is often used to represent excitement, even danger. It can also be used to attract or persuade.

CONCLUSION

By exploring the color psychology, we have uncovered the awesome power that each hue holds over our emotions. From subtle shades to vibrant hues, every color has a story to tell and an emotion to evoke. The choice of colors is never insignificant, as it can influence our perception of the world around us.

The color psychology reveals an unsuspected dimension in our daily lives, influencing our choices and reactions. By understanding this colorful universe, we can communicate with greater impact and appreciate the wealth of emotions that colors bring to our lives.

Creatively yours,

E-S.

To discover more : https://colors.ezperanza.studio/