The hidden meaning of orange
June 1, 2007
[Note: This is the 2nd article in the "The Hidden Meaning of Colour" series. Last time we looked at The Hidden Meaning of Red.]
Friendly, outgoing and warm
Orange combines the vitality and sensuality of red with the optimism of yellow.
While red is demanding and attention-seeking, orange is seen as a positive colour that raises tolerance and strengthens will.
On the physical side, orange is associated with strength and endurance, making it a good colour for athletes.
Orange is:
- a catalyst for action
- happy
- extroverted
- invigorating
- stimulating
A lot of people don’t like orange, which is a shame really. But I think much of that comes down to the shades that are used — screaming orange tones are often used in product packaging to signal its cheap price.
Using a more subdued shade that you’d find in a sunset can work very well, particularly for people with a creative bent.
Psychological meanings
- energy
- cheer
- activity
- excitement
- warmth
- crassness
References in Nature
- fire
- sunset
- oranges, mangoes
- pumpkins, yams
- flower and autumn leaves
- goldfish
- human hair, fur
Cultural References
- Buddhist monk robes
- life rafts
- copper
- Halloween
- Dutch flag
- love and happiness (Japan)
when to use orange
Orange can cheer you up, encourage you to take action (without the aggression or sexual energy that red can bring) and express your unique style.
Orange tones are popular in eating establishments as it’s known to stimulate the appetite.
Orange is a hit with children, who tend to like bold colours in general. There is even some evidence that a bit of orange can help their academic performance.
For web design, orange is good to use in websites related to children, outgoing creatives (artists, writers, etc), sportspeople, social and food-related businesses.
Next time we’ll look at some examples of using orange in your business website.
About Do Good Design
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Or get in touch to discuss your website project.
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