Did you ever stop to wonder why the Facebook logo is blue, or the Coca Cola logo is red? It’s easy to move through the world imagining that all of the vibrant colours that surround us are pretty random, but in reality a lot of thought goes into curating our daily colourscapes. You probably know which colour is your favourite – mine’s purple- but when it comes to choosing which colour is best for uniforms that will represent your brand, it’s worth diving a little deeper. The marketing whizzes of the world have put a lot of effort into understanding the psychology of colour, so let’s explore what they’ve discovered. Armed with this information, you will be able to choose the right colour for uniforms with absolute confidence!
Grabbing Your Audience’s Attention
Thinking about who your target demographic are and which colours they are likely to find the most appealing is the strongest place to start. Your chosen palette including uniform colours will help them form a sense of your brand’s personality, so how do you want your business to be seen? Creating an impression of luxury, modernity, ruggedness, affordability, or strength can each be aided with the right application of colour. Of course, every element is part of a nuanced whole, but here are some of the rule-of-thumb associations that marketers often turn to:
- Red is associated with power, passion, and excitement, although it can also indicate danger. This colour triggers powerful emotions, and can convey a sense of urgency. It also encourages appetite, making it a popular choice for food brands.
- Orange is energetic and friendly, making it a good choice for casual brands. It is also associated with affordability, making it a popular choice for those who want to highlight the value they offer.
- Yellow can convey a sense of youthfulness, creativity, and fun, although when overdosed it can trigger anxiety for some. This makes it a great highlight colour for brands wanting to show off their inner extroversion.
- Green is associated with nature, health, and prosperity, making it ideal for ethically minded brands. Green can be a relaxing colour when the right shade is selected, while others can be energizing, or bring military style discipline to mind.
- Blue is a calming colour that triggers a sense of trust and dependability. Thanks to these associations, this colour is used widely in business, although it is worth noting that blue hues are a bad choice for food related industries, as they suppress appetite!
- Purple has long been associated with luxury and decadence thanks to its royal roots. This bold colour can offer an air of prestige, or suggest spirituality, depending on its application.
- Pink has long been used to portray femininity, however today’s brands often leverage the colour’s passionate and hopeful qualities to break traditionally gendered molds.
- Monochrome palettes, favouring black, white, or a combination of the two can offer a modern and sophisticated impression. Black is widely considered powerful and luxurious, while white suggests cleanliness and restraint.
As you set out to choose the right colour for uniforms, it’s important to balance the concept of colour psychology with what makes your brand unique. At times, the most obvious choice is the right one—while at others, taking a leap that will allow you to stand out from your competition can be a bountiful endeavour indeed! Consulting with your team for additional colour insight can be helpful, as they are the ultimately the ones who will wear what you choose from now on. Avoiding the same colour scheme as the local sports team’s arch rivals might also be advantageous!
If you are still struggling on behalf of your brand to decide which colour is best for uniforms, the team here at K Factory are always only a phone call or email away. Contact us today to discuss your branded workwear needs, and we will be happy to advise!
