A logo is a visual representation of a business, organisation or individual. Read our article on the topic, “Why is a logo important for your business“, if you have any doubts about its role in driving your market campaign?
But what should be the colour of the logo? Should it be red or black? Should it have just one colour?
Or can you have multiple colours? Are there any specific colours that your target audience finds more attractive?
Let’s closely examine how different industries use colours in their logos. Let’s figure out logo colours by industry.
Note: While all logos have the same purpose, the primary difference lies in colour used to design them. Hence, designing logos with the right colours is the best way to gain visitors’ attention.
This post will review logo colours by industry from the following three perspectives:
- Colour psychology
- Brand identity
- Logo trends
Relationship of psychology with colours
According to psychology, colours can significantly influence emotions and trigger specific actions. Orange is a popular colour choice for logos used in the health industry. Several health-based companies consider orange because it symbolizes passion and youth.
The colours: black, white, red, and blue are common choices in the tech industry. In contrast, black represents mystery, elegance, and sophistication in the entertainment and beauty industry.
However, red denotes curiosity and excitement that intrigues the user to explore more about the product’s USPs. In contrast, blue is a masculine colour that presents dependability and expertise of intelligence. With that said, let’s get into the details of colour psychology.
Colour psychology
Colours have a significant role to play in our lives. The correct use of colours can help trigger different emotions to drive emotions.
In short, every colour in the surrounding has something to do with exhibiting positive or negative emotions. Though colour psychology is not a guarantee of success, it can help design a logo that speaks of your brand to the customers.
Regardless of one’s taste in colour, it’s best to follow experts’ tips when choosing colours to reflect the brand’s characteristics.
Psychological effects of cool colours
Different shades of colours can have different effects on different audiences. So choosing colours that are truly for your audience is of vital importance. For example, purple can inspire creativity. Moreover, several studies have shown that light purple exhibits a calming effect that eases tension. Similarly, the green colour in a logo can represent growth, peace, nature and health.
Psychological effects of warm colours
If you’re looking for colours that stimulate emotions, warm colours can greatly help you.
For example, yellow or orange are known to grab attention, increase appetite and attract youth. Coca-Cola, Nintendo, Exon Mobil, Canon, and LEGO use red in their logos because red represents youth, boldness and excitement. Orange, on the other hand, depicts confidence and balance.
Colour psychology in logo design
Choosing the correct colour for your logo is important, and you should not rush this process. Brands and businesses spend a lot of time considering what colours best represent them, so you should do the same. Select colours that are consistent with your band’s message and hold meaning.
For example, most companies in the banking and finance industries choose bright colours with a clear psychological purpose. Meanwhile, blue is dominant in the education industry as it evokes feelings of reliability and trustworthiness.
People interested in buying any property in real estate choose a universal green colour that symbolises prosperity, peace, growth and health.
The urge to buy a house often stems from the desire to improve the quality of life. This is why most real estate companies use green in their logos to trigger pleasant emotions in people.
Therefore, you may likely see green as a prominent colour in logos like Trulia and Clover Realty. Red is a driving and energizing colour that encourages action and grabs attention. That’s why we see most eateries with red in their logos.
The list of fast food restaurants includes McDonald’s, In ‘N’ Out, Arby’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Outback Steakhouse.
Combine hues
If your logo needs something extra, experiment with different colours that convey your brand’s message. In simpler words, avoid colours that may clash and not sit well with the eyes.
According to colour psychology, using true colours may be perceived well by the audience. On the other hand, some primary solid colours may be harsh and exhibit positive emotions among your target audience.
Use light colours
However, blending any colour with white can also give you a lighter shade. The more golden the color will be, the more subtle effects it will produce.
Also, lighter blue may be more tranquil and soothing. Adding gray color to any existing logo may create a unique identifier representing your brand and trigger different psychological effects.
What are color gradients?
The term “ombre,” a common design trend, also refers to gradients or colors. It’s an excellent way to refrain from using too many colors in a logo design. Try to keep it simple and subtle as the more complex you make-the harder it will be to understand.
Wheels of color
The famous color wheel concept has existed since the early 1700s. It served as an example of the various color combinations based on variations in tints and hues. Using a color wheel can help eliminate the guesswork in selecting colors for a pleasing contrast.
Logo trends
Trends in logos have been around us for a long time. Many firms update their logos every five years to stay updated with trends while maintaining their primary brand identity.
If you’re creating a small business drop-shipping logo, go for colors that go well with a B2C audience. Aim for something timeless if you want to create a business logo that will be around for decades.
One major trend in the market
When examining the logos of important businesses, we identified a similar clear pattern revolving around blue color.
Blue is a neutral color, used mainly by businesses in finance, technology, health care, or insurance. In contrast, red is a more daring color choice for brands related to the Food and Retail sectors.
Choose the best color for your logo
Though it’s not necessary to go with a single logo, you always have the option of multiple colors. However, using a variety of colors is an excellent approach to highlight the type of goods and services you sell.
Decipher the color language
If you have a famous brand worldwide, consider the symbolic meaning of the colors you’ve chosen and how they are interpreted in various cultural contexts. While white is typically linked with purity in many western cultures, it is also seen as a sign of peace and serenity.
Make an effort to stand out among rivals
The recognition of the brand is the essence of a high-quality logo. Make sure your selected color scheme differs from the color schemes of your competitors to stand out from the crowd.
Even though Ford’s iconic blue oval has been around for more than a century, it continues to be recognized by audiences.
Utilize images with many meanings
The WinePlace logo is an excellent illustration of this strategy in action. Some of my favorite icons show off an intriguing design technique called “double entendre.” Such symbols skillfully mix two images to express a fascinating concept or idea.
Avoid clichés
Since there are new trends in logo design every few years, try to research the latest trends to “keep up with the times.” Instead of imitating others’ creations, choose unique color schemes as the simpler, the better.
For example, the Nike logo with a simple black check sign on the white background looks captivating. Also, sticking with one color can be a wise choice. Usually, logos with multiple colors appear sharp in a smaller size.
Choose complimentary Colors
If you’re thinking of creating a logo, it’s essential to consider the colors that are going to complement the overall design of the logo. Choosing the right colors for your company’s logo can signal what kind of brand it is and how people will perceive it. From choosing the right colors for your next logo to the best examples of color schemes and color psychology, a small share of homework to create an amazing logo doesn’t hurt.
Choose logo colors by industry.
Choosing the right logo colors for your brand can be a challenge. Whether you want to stand out from the competition or convey a brand message to build trust, the right colors can help. With a little bit of mix and match, you can create a memorable logo that people will remember even when they’re not familiar with your product or service.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular industry categories and their corresponding colors:
- Automotive: Red, blue, and yellow
- Banking and finance: Blue, red, and green
- Beauty and cosmetics: Pink, purple and black
- Education: Light Blue, dark blue, and yellow
- Energy: Navy blue, white, and orange
- Fashion: Black, grey/silver, and gold
Example color schemes for your logo
When it comes to choosing the right logo colors by industry, there are several factors that you need to consider. From color schemes to font selection, every little attention to detail matters.
In order for your logo to attract eyes and appeal to the audience, it should have a good combination of colors that work well together. For ease and better results, you can also use the following tools to help determine what colors would work best:
- Color palette generator – This tool allows users to create custom color palettes based on specific criteria. Moreover, it also allows users to change each hue/value pair separately to experiment with different effects for an attractive logo.
- Color Combination Websites – Such websites compile data from hundreds of different sources, including BuzzFeed News and Fortune magazine, into one place. From there, users can easily find good examples of successful logos with particular shades or combinations set within them.”
Importance of color psychology in logos
As you know, color psychology is the study of how colors can influence emotions. From marketing and branding to logo design, it’s used in multiple areas to help choose the right colors according to your industry.
In general, there are four main types of color when it comes to logo design: warm (reds and oranges) and cool (blues, violets). Red has been associated with passion for centuries, while Blue is used to signify calmness. However, purple evokes royalty, green means life—and yellow represents happiness or cheerfulness. With the help of these associations, you can create a well-designed logo that appeals to your target audience and stays in their minds for future purchases.
What do different colors mean in logos?
Every color has a different meaning when it comes to logos. Blue, as a popular color, reflects trust and loyalty, which makes it an attractive choice for businesses looking to establish themselves as trustworthy brands.
Red is another very popular choice for logos since it reflects power, authority, and confidence. However, it’s easy to distinguish different colors on your screen based on the message you want to convey.
Green represents nature; it suggests growth and renewal, making it a perfect option for brands that want to stand out.
Using free tools to make your logo design.
Thanks to the free tools, you can now create logos with colors you love and admire. Such tools are great for beginners looking to create a catchy logo but don’t have the money or time to hire an expert. With a few clicks, you can land on sites that offer a variety of templates, fonts, and other resources that will help you get started on your logo creation project.
FAQs
Q: Which color is ideal for business?
A: Blue is the most popular color globally, portraying professionalism and serenity.
Q: Which 3 colors work great together?
A: Three-color sets that work well together are:
- Yellow, red, and blue.
- Orange, purple, and green.
- Magenta, gold, and teal.
Q: What shade is most in demand?
A: According to a global survey, blue is the most preferred color in 10 continents.
