Patterns exist for a reason, and implementing them in your design will make it feel more familiar for website or app users. Something as seemingly small as color can have a huge effect on your design and functionality. Don’t underestimate its role in your design. Too often developers leave this for the end, when, in actuality, it should have a place at the beginning of the creative process.
Red
Stop, love, warmth, power
The warming color makes elements of your design seem more important. Dark red, similar to that of the color of bricks, reminds of power and durability.
In signs and traffic lights, the red is used as a warning color. Designers use it to make sure you’re aware of the implications of the action.
Orange
Energy
Think of oranges. They provide a great source of Vitamin C and boost of energy when eaten. So, we associate the color with the same source of energy and enthusiasm.
Orange is common on casual sites, but the bright color is often not seen on professional websites, as it denotes cheapness. In some instances, like on websites to help customers find cheap products, this is actually an advantage.
Yellow
Attention, Serious
Different shades of yellow come with different implications. Like warning signs on the road, bright yellow is upbeat and commanding of attention.
Dark yellow indicates a more serious topic and an older topic. The History Channel logo is a good representation of this combination.
Green
Growth, Success, Nature
Since most plants are green, there is an obvious correlation between the two, and growth and health by extension. Growth can also be applied to businesses and personal finances.
Blue
Trust, Relaxing, Sharing
The most common color in UX design comes with many different implications. Lighter shades, like those of sky and water, are inherently trusted and relaxing, prompting numerous banks to adopt the color in their logos.
Social media sites, web browsers, and messaging apps, also adopted the color, prompting a recent social and sharing meaning.
Purple
High-end
The color purple was historically linked to royalty, and the color maintains the sense of luxury today.
Pink
Femininity, Youth
Bright pinks provide a playful nature to your logo or UX design. Though it often is associated with girls, make sure not to rely on this stereotypical use.
Brown
Nature, Stability
Brown is very rare in logos and websites. It generates images of nature and wood, and with them comes connotations of stability and rustic feel.
Black
Power, Sophistication
Black is the strongest color and attracts attention the fastest. When used in logos and large graphic elements on websites, it enhances the emotions of the other colors used and requires a striking font.
White
Health, Fresh
Unlike black, white accents other colors. White space is important in design, but using it as the dominant color can be too overwhelming for the user. Use shades of white in your design, but don’t rely on it too heavily.