What Is the Color Orange Associated With

"The subject of color seems to have almost endless ramifications
and to touch upon life in almost every quarter, for color is rich in lore,
rich in meaning and purpose." – Faber Birren

There is a large array of emotional responses that are associated with colors. Some of these are obvious, some obscure. Certain associations are specific to a country or region, while others are universally recognized—being rooted in human anatomy or observable natural phenomena. Some colors can have different meanings, even opposing meanings, based entirely on context and application.

While there are many, many factors that come into play when coming up with a design's color, this should certainly be one of them. By knowing that red and yellow are the most visually attention-grabbing colors, you might design a better billboard. Knowing that blue signifies knowledge may help decide the color of a library's logo. Like most things related to design, these aren't rules set in concrete but rather one more tool that you can use or intentionally violate to deliver your intended message.

In this article, I've collected and summarized the emotions and concepts associated with the six basic colors, plus black and white. I've tried to make it as definitive as possible and included numerous examples, but the more you study this subject, the more you will find. The most definitive texts on the subject, in my opinion, are the books of Faber Birren, who was a consultant on color and color theory and put out numerous books on the subject.

With that caveat, you should find this article comprehensive and useful in design, photography and illustration. And if you do find something missing, please feel free to leave a comment.

(Note on Character Studies: I've included these as I found them interesting, not because I believe they are accurate or true. And aside from being an interesting read, they also may be of use to character designers or costume designers who are having trouble figuring out the color choices of their characters.)

Red
Green
Yellow
Blue
Black
White
Orange
Purple
Color Combinations

RED

"At once, red is the passionate and ardent hue of the spectrum, marking the saint and the sinner, patriotism and anarchy, love and hatred, compassion and war." – Faber Birren

Warmth, anger, crudity, excitement, power, strength, love, passion, fire, blood, extreme emotions, battle. Red is supposed to prompt impulse buying. It has been used by the church to give the feeling of pomp and circumstance. In history it represents royalty, majesty and triumph. Usually thought of as a violent and exciting color.

Emotional Response

Red is a very emotionally intense color. It enhances human metabolism, increases respiration rate, and raises blood pressure. It has very high visibility, which is why stop signs, stoplights, and fire equipment are usually painted red. In heraldry, red is used to indicate courage. It is a color found in many national flags.

Use in Design & Advertising

Red brings text and images to the foreground. It is used to stimulate people to make quick decisions; it is a perfect color for 'Buy Now' or 'Click Here' buttons on Internet banners and websites. In advertising, red is often used to evoke erotic feelings (red lips, red nails, red-light districts, 'Lady in Red', etc). Red is widely used to indicate danger (high-voltage signs, traffic lights). This color is also commonly associated with energy, so would be appropriate when promoting energy drinks, games, cars and other items related to sports and high physical activity.

Associated Meanings

General Appearance: Brilliant, intense, opaque, dry
Mental Associations: Hot, fire, heat, blood
Direction Associations: Danger, Christmas, Fourth of July, Valentines Day, Mother's Day, Flag
Objective Impressions: Passionate, exciting, fervent, active
Subjective Impressions: Intensity, rage, rapacity, fierceness
Signifies: strength, health, vigor, lust, danger
Holiday: Yule
Planet: Mars
Day: Tuesday
Astrological: Scorpio

Color Shape

red-square Red suggests the form of the square and the cube. It is hot, dry and opaque in quality. It is solid and substantial. It is extremely advancing and holds the strongest of all attractions to stimulus. Because it is sharply focused by the eye, it lends itself to structural planes and sharp angles.

Character Study

Here is the vital color. Love red in a big and generous way and you have real courage before life. You are vigorous and given to action, for life means much to you. Do you like sports? Are you inclined to be very positive in what you have to say?

In affairs of the heart you are rather likely to be fickle. Because of your eagerness for excitement you may break many old hearts in your glamorous efforts to win new ones. But people who understand you recognize that you are a very human person, after all, and will more readily forgive your faults than you will forgive theirs.

You are quick to judge people. First impressions count with you and very often cause you to act emotionally rather than mentally.

Related Colors

Light red represents joy, sexuality, passion, sensitivity, and love.
Pink signifies romance, love, and friendship. It denotes feminine qualities and passiveness.
Dark red is associated with vigor, willpower, rage, anger, leadership, courage, longing, malice, and wrath.
Brown suggests stability and denotes masculine qualities.
Reddish-brown is associated with harvest and fall.

Examples

GREEN

Spring, the macabre, freshness, mystery, envy, hope, eternal life. Being composed of yellow and blue, green presents the feeling of light and coolness, cheer and restraint. It is the color of nature as usually seen. Green alleviates tension and implies restfulness.