how to use colour to influence productivity and perception
TRANSCRIPT
DID YOU KNOW?THE FOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL PRIMARIES AFFECT YOU IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
BodyRED
EmotionsYELLOW
MindBLUE
Balance of Body/Mind/Emotions
GREEN
WHAT DOES IT DO?
• Increases heart rate and blood flow
• Attracts immediate attention
• Triggers “fight or flight” response
• Prompts automatic physical response
RED THE BODY
USE IT TO• Encourage physical activity
• Evoke a physical response
• Drive action
E.g. Stop signs and traffic lights
DO NOT USE IT IN• Potentially stressful situations -
red will emphasise that feeling (e.g. task management software, performance reports, etc.)
RED THE BODY
There’s method behind why Virgin Active uses red: it’s the colour that promotes being physically active.
YOUR RED STRATEGYUse red to draw attention, get an immediate reaction or encourage physical activity.
1 Identify what you need to draw immediate attention to e.g. emergency notices, important tasks, crucial reminders
2 Combine it with yellow, to inject high energy into creativity
HOW TO USE IT
PLANT-POTS STICKY NOTES AN “URGENT” PINBOARD
RED PINS
WHAT DOES IT DO?
• Creates calm
• Encourages clarity
• Enhances mental focus
• Heightens productivity in mind-related tasks
BLUE THE MIND
Accountants, for example, undertake numerous mind-heavy tasks every day. Blue, therefore, could work for maintaining a calm but sharp focus.
WANT TO FOCUS ON REMEMBERING ANYONE’S NAME?
USE IT IN• A situation that calls for mental
concentration
• A space designed for relaxing
• Creative problem-solving
DO NOT USE IT TO• Create energy
• Signify urgency
Did you know?Blue is overwhelmingly the world’s favourite
colour, and almost nobody has a blue
deficiency, which means that the majority of
people can distinguish blue from other colours.
BLUE THE MIND
YOUR BLUE STRATEGYIf your mind is right, your body will follow.
1 Identify areas where you want to feel either relaxed or focused Remember: Intense variations of this colour lend more to focus and clarity, while softer variations encourage relaxation.
2 Combine it with green, to emphasise relaxation and reassurance.
HOW TO USE IT
FURNITUREBOLDLY-COLOURED PORTRAITS
BLUE PEN
WHAT DOES IT DO?
• Inspires optimism
• Creates happiness
• Encourages self-esteem
• Heightens creativity
YELLOW THE EMOTIONS
“It takes guts to be creative and come up with something new - that’s why yellow works in that (a creative) environment”
- ANGELA WRIGHT, COLOUR PSYCHOLOGIST
USE IT IN• A space that calls for creativity
(design studio, inspiration board)
• A space that encourages optimism and happiness
DO NOT USE IT• In a decision-making space, where
emotion could cloud facts
• In large amounts, as this can create feelings of frustration or irritation
Did you know?It is widely accepted that babies cry more in
predominantly yellow rooms.
YELLOW THE EMOTIONS
YOUR YELLOW STRATEGYOptimising your emotions to positively affect your body and mind.
1 Identify areas that could benefit from creativity and optimism Remember: Use yellow in small amounts to avoid negative emotions.
2 Combine it with blue, to emphasise the creative element of problem-solving.
HOW TO USE ITUse in moderation. Think of how something as simple as a sunflower can brighten the mood of a room.
WANT TO LEARN 3 HOLISTIC CAREER HACKS FOR A HAPPY WORKING LIFE?
WHAT DOES IT DO?
• Creates balance between colour responses (body, mind, emotion)
• Reassures and calms
• Encourages efficiency
GREEN THE BALANCE
Did you know?The colour green is known to place low
stress on the eyes, and so can be used to
combat eye fatigue
USE IT IN• Environments where eyes
experience strain - i.e. where people stare at screens for long durations
• Places where money changes hands (to create reassurance)
• Urban spaces that could benefit from a link back to nature
DO NOT USE IT• For people who are action-orientated
(Those who respond to red)
• In a situation that is potentially stagnant or bland
GREEN THE BALANCE
YOUR GREEN STRATEGYStrike a balance.
1 Identify where you need to maintain a balance between body, mind and emotions. Remember: Too much green can create blandness, especially for people who respond well to action-colours
2 Combine it with blue, to create a feeling of calm efficiency
HOW TO USE IT
PLANTS IN YOUR OFFICE OR HOME
WANT TO HEAR FROM A REAL PERSON ABOUT ACHIEVING WORK-LIFE BALANCE?