Growth
May 9

Color Magic: How Startups Can Leverage Color Psychology to Captivate Their Audience

"Color is a power which directly influences the soul."

Wassily Kandinsky, Russian Painter and Art Theorist

Okay, we understand that quote may be a tad much (I’m not gonna talk about souls in this article), but we can all agree that color certainly plays a critical role in our lives. Color has the ability to evoke different emotions and can even elicit physiological responses in the body, such as changing heart rate and blood pressure. But, have you ever thought about the impact of color in shaping the perception of your brand? As you spend your valuable time investing in your visual identity, understanding color psychology can play a huge role in helping your brand to stand out.

In this article, we'll explore the science behind color psychology, dive into the meaning of various hues, and learn from real-world examples of successful startups that have harnessed the power of color to create memorable and impactful brand identities.

The Science Behind Color Psychology

Colors affect on decision-making

Canva:

A web based graphic design tool, uses a medley of vibrant colors to spark creativity and an energetic spirit in its users. Build a color pallet around the outcome you want for your customers.

Slack:

A communication platform for teams, embraced a vibrant color palette to break free from the corporate nature of B2B software, creating a friendly, collaborative brand. Observe what others brands are doing with their color and break away from the mold.

Building a color scheme that aligns with your values

Align colors with your brand's personality, ethics, and values

Everlane:

An ethical fashion startup, opts for a minimalistic, earthy color palette reflecting its dedication to transparency and sustainability. Cater to your target audience's values and associations.

Glossier:

A beauty brand targeting young, fashion-forward consumers, cleverly employs a millennial pink color scheme. Differentiate your brand by choosing an “own-able” color that then becomes associate with your brand only.

Choosing color based on association

Warm colors (red, orange, yellow) and their meanings

DoorDash:

A food delivery startup, uses red to evoke excitement and urgency, enticing customers to place an order.

Asana:

A project management startup, utilizes are core set of prime colors to convey balance, diversity of teams, and productivity. Prime colors used with a mix of simple tints (black, white, gray, brown).

Instagram:

Incorporates a colorful gradient in its logo, representing the diverse content and experiences on the platform.

Cool colors (green, blue, purple) and their meanings

Casper:

A mattress startup, stands out from traditional competitors with a calming color palette of blues and pastels.

Building a Cohesive Color Palette

Choose primary and secondary colors

Airbnb:

A home-sharing platform, combines a bold red with softer secondary colors to create a warm, inviting brand image. Craft a complementary color scheme based off a single primary color

Mailchimp:

An email marketing platform, harmoniously combines large swatches of yellow and off-whites for a playful, approachable brand identity. Use simple primary and secondary colors, with subtle variations and gradations of each.

Medium:

An online publishing platform, sticks to a simple black and white color scheme to emphasize content and readability.

Applying Color Across Your Brand's Touchpoints

Maintain consistency in logo, typography, and imagery

Dropbox:

A cloud storage service, preserves a cohesive visual identity by consistently using its signature blue, from logos, to backgrounds, to app icons. Integrate colors using a theme, such as Dropbox that uses a ink like blue found in print and written materials.

Warby Parker:

An eyewear startup, incorporates its signature blue in website design, social media posts, and print materials. Leverage color psychology in user experience and interface design

Headspace:

A meditation and mindfulness app, employs a soothing color palette to create a calming user experience.

Conclusion

As a startup founder, understanding color psychology is essential when revamping your visual identity. The right colors can evoke the right emotions and create a memorable brand.

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