HOW TO USE

COLOURTO INFLUENCE PRODUCTIVITY

AND PERCEPTION

DID YOU KNOW?THE FOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL PRIMARIES AFFECT YOU IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

BodyRED

EmotionsYELLOW

MindBLUE

Balance of Body/Mind/Emotions

GREEN

COLOUR CAN AFFECT ANYTHING FROM DAILY PRODUCTIVITY TO BRAND PERCEPTION AND DECISION-MAKING.

REDTHE BODY

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

BLUETHE MIND

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

YELLOWTHE EMOTIONS

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?

GREENTHE BALANCE

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?

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