Different colors invoke different reactions on the human mind. Each color has a different reaction associated with it. These reactions are not blatantly obvious to us, they are subtle. Some common examples are yellow for happiness and blue for sadness. Most of the research regarding color associations is rather... iffy. But I believe there is some truth in these studies. If this wasn't true, then why is blue overwhelmingly the most common favorite color?
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| Blue Nude I, Henri Matisse |
Stereotypically, blue suggests sadness. However, I think there is more to the color blue than that generic stereotype; there has to be something positive about the color. Some sources say that blue has a calming affect. Others suggest that blue is associated with constant and familiar elements; such as the ocean or the sky. Most of the general population considers blue to be their favorite color, therefore, there has to be more to blue than sadness. There are other indicators that color association is relevant. Consider the combination of red and yellow.
It isn't a coincidence that McDonald's, In N' Out Burger, Wendy's, Carl's Junior, Denny's, Sonic, and Pizza Hut have all coined red and yellow as their signature colors. And no, it is not to match the colors of the ketchup and mustard. That color combination has been suggested to stimulate hunger and thoughts of food. Here, all these companies designed their image, not based on the suggested color schemes within the color wheel; they designed based on the human psyche.
While many people are skeptical, there is evidence right in front of them that colors do have a psychological stimulating effect on people. I am not saying the effect is significant, but there is something. For those people who still refuse to believe; just consider how much money all those franchises spent on their identity and campaigns. Those companies would not have spent so much money on something that does not matter.
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