Angela Wright, a renowned colour psychologist, proposed that colour’s effect on us goes beyond sight alone, and reaches to the intricacies of our psychology. It’s the first thing humanity instinctively looks to for the information we need, to know how to respond to anything that confronts us. Think about a stop sign, for example, or a set of traffic lights. What colour comes to mind? What action does it drive you to do? Between the science of photons and wavelengths, electrical impulses and the hypothalamus, lies a common bottom line: colour profoundly affects your behaviour. How are you using colour to influence behaviour?

1. HOW TO USE
COLOURTO INFLUENCE PRODUCTIVITY
AND PERCEPTION

2. DID YOU KNOW?
THE FOUR PSYCHOLOGICAL PRIMARIES
AFFECT YOU IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:
Body
RED
Emotions
YELLOW
Mind
BLUE
Balance of Body/
Mind/Emotions
GREEN

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

4. RED
THE BODY

5. 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

6. 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.

7. YOUR RED STRATEGY
Use 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

8. BLUE
THE MIND

9. 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?

10. 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

11. YOUR BLUE STRATEGY
If 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

12. YELLOW
THE EMOTIONS

13. 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

14. 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

15. YOUR YELLOW STRATEGY
Optimising 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 IT
Use 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?

16. GREEN
THE BALANCE

17. 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

18. 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

19. YOUR GREEN STRATEGY
Strike 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
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