colour

Design Skills > Communicating with Colour
Colour is part of our everyday lives and can affect us on many different levels; for example, on a physical level researchers have found that the colour red increases blood pressure. Emotionally we may associate red with passion or rage depending on the context in which the colour is used.

Colour - Emotions, Moods, Behaviour
Research has been carried out since the 1900's on the effects that colour has on us, how it effects our emotions, moods and behaviour. Below are some of the observations that researchers have made about the effects that different colours have on us.

**Red** Emotion - Love, passion, danger. Physical - Increases blood pressure, increases respiratory rate. Can make you hungry by increasing your metabolism. Behaviour - Aggression, anger, sensuous, impulsiveness.

**Orange** Emotion - Cheer, vigour, exuberance, boldness. Physical - Decreases irritability, decreases hostility. Behaviour - Pleasure seeking, active, social.

**Yellow** Emotion - Cheer, warmth, optimism, irritability, annoyance. Physical - Increases irritability, increases hostility, sharpens memory, stimulates appetite, aids digestion. Behaviour - Caution, innovation, egotism, discrimination.

**Green** Emotion - Growth, envy, inexperience, wealth, compassion. Physical - Rejuvenation, balance. Behaviour - Moderation, tradition, contentment.

**Blue** Emotion - Serenity, loyalty, peace, sadness, sincerity Physical - Lowers blood pressure, slows respiratory rate, cooling and relaxing Behaviour - Loyal, astute, responsible, authoritative

**Violet** Emotion - Royalty, supremacy, reverence Physical - Lowers blood pressure, suppresses appetite, quietens overactive internal dialogue Behaviour - Elegance, spiritual, creativity

**Pink** Emotion - Emotional, sweetness, femininity Physical - Weakens muscles, stimulates sweet tooth Behaviour - Gentle, friendly, protective

**Brown** Emotion - Natural, tranquil, earthiness, casual Physical - Dull Behaviour - Shrewd, stable, reliable, sturdy

**White** Emotion - Innocence, joy, hope, cleanliness Physical - Purity, enlightenment Behaviour - Idealism, optimism, individualism

**Grey** Emotion - Steady, stable, dignity, indecision Behaviour - Deliberate, guarded, disciplined

**Black** Emotion - Mourning, mystery, elegant, dignity, sophisticated, fright Physical - Fatigue Behaviour - Powerful, mysterious, stunning, aloof

Some of the effects that a colour has on us might appear contradictory; for example the colour red is associated with love and aggression! Yellow is associated with cheer but can cause annoyance. Can you be cheerfully annoyed? The effect of a colour depends on the context in which it is used and also what other colours it is used with.

Colour Combinations