noma
Four key principles to help you understand and select your go-to colors! With @trungbaotr / Research on color and perception consistently shows that colors aren’t just visual, they’re emotional, psychological, and even physical triggers that shape how we feel, think, and behave.
1) Colors affect mood, behavior, and decision-making, often within seconds. Warm colors like red, orange, and yellow are associated with energy, excitement, and passion, but can also trigger urgency or anxiety. Cool colors like blue, green, and purple are more calming, and linked to trust, tranquility, and creativity.
2) Color influences memory and attention. Studies show that colorful visuals are easier to remember than black-and-white ones. In addition, people associate meaning with color unconsciously. Blue with trust, red with danger or romance, green with nature or health, etc.
3) While preferences vary culturally, blue consistently ranks as the world’s most popular favorite color. It’s often associated with trust, calmness, and intelligence, which is why many tech companies and banks use it in their branding.
Thus, research links favorite colors to personality traits. For example, green lovers often value balance and peace, while red lovers might be passionate and driven. In addition, preferences shift with age, gender, and life experience, showing that color perception is personal and changes over time.
4) When studies mention that “blue is the world’s favorite color,” they’re referring to mid to cool tones like sky blue, navy, turquoise, cobalt, or ocean blue.
Not all blues feel the same. Each shade carries its emotional weight, and that feeling can shift dramatically depending on the colors it’s paired with. Blue next to beige might feel calm and elegant, while the same blue next to orange becomes bold and high-energy - this series by @trungbaotr provides examples in this regard.
It’s not just the blue itself—it’s the company it keeps. This idea applies to all colors across the spectrum.
@nomadict: What colors feel most like you right now, and how do you think that might shift a year from today? 🎨📸