Importance of Colours

As an extremely important factor of marketing and magazines, I have decided to investigate the significance and hidden meanings behind specific colours to help me choose an appropriate colour scheme for my music magazine. Colours can be known to increase brand recognition by 80%, whilst ads are read up to 42% more than similar ads in black and white. Lastly, up to 85% of the reason people decide to buy product.

From research I discovered that what evokes a reaction from colour in one person may evoke a very different reaction in someone else as this is down to personal preference or sometimes cultural background.

Looking at the colour red, it could be associated with violence, blood and heat or the complete opposite of love and passion.  In terms of magazines, red can be a powerful accent colour, giving a strong and high-end feel; It can have an overwhelming effect if it is used too much in designs but is a great colour to use when power or passion want to be represented. As a versatile colour, brighter versions of red can be seen as more energetic and darker shades being more powerful and elegant. Not only does it draw attention, but it is also the colour that the eyes are drawn to first. 

Another colour such as yellow can be seen to give a sense of positivity or energy, therefore associated with creativity and imagination. Furthermore, purple is the colour of mourning for some people, whilst darker shades connoting wealth, luxury royalty, traditionally. Lighter purples, however, can be considered more romantic and calming. 

Black is commonly used in edgier designs, as well as in very elegant designs. It can be either conservative or modern, traditional or unconventional, depending on the colours it’s combined with. In design, black is commonly used for typography and other functional parts, because of it’s neutral effect. Black can make it easier to convey a sense of sophistication and mystery in a design.

In magazines, white is generally considered a neutral backdrop that lets other colours in a design have a larger voice. It can help to convey cleanliness and simplicity, and is popular in simple designs. White can also portray either winter or summer, depending on the other design motifs and colours that surround it.

• Red: Passion, Love, Anger
• Orange: Energy, Happiness, Vitality
• Yellow: Happiness, Hope, Deceit
• Green: New Beginnings, Abundance, Nature
• Blue: Calm, Responsible, Sadness
• Purple: Creativity, Royalty, Wealth
• Black: Mystery, Elegance, Evil
• Gray: Moody, Conservative, Formality
• White: Purity, Cleanliness, Virtue
• Brown: Nature, Wholesomeness, Dependability
• Tan or Beige: Conservative, Piety, Dull
• Cream or Ivory: Calm, Elegant, Purity

Overall, from this research into colour and its effects, I have decided that I would like to include the colours red, black, white, purple and possibly blue, and these are all appropriate for both genders, my genre, and my target audience. However, just like my flat plans, I am aware that these may change further on in the production of my magazine, and I may include various other colours which I will write about if these changes occur.