The Cultural Significance of Color
H. John Johnsen
August 28, 2006
When designing packaging, web sites or marketing materials being used for different cultural groups you should consider colors and their meanings to those targeted. Color has different meaning through out the world and research should always be conducted before presenting products or web site worldwide.
RED
China - symbol of celebration and luck, used in many cultural ceremonies that range from funerals to weddings.
India - color of purity (used in wedding outfits).
United States - Christmas color when combined with green; Valentines Day when combined with pink; indicates stop (danger) at traffic lights.
Eastern cultures - signifies joy when combined with white.
YELLOW
Asia - sacred, imperial.
Western cultures - joy, happiness.
ORANGE
Ireland - religious significance (Protestant).
United States - inexpensive goods, Halloween (with black).
GREEN
China - studies indicate this is not a good color choice for packaging, green hats mean a man's wife is cheating on him.
France - studies indicate this is not a good color choice for packaging.
India - the color of Islam.
Ireland - religious significance (Catholic).
Some tropical countries - associated with danger
United States - indicates go (safe) at traffic lights, environmental awareness, St. Patrick's Day, Christmas color (red and green).
BLUE
China - associated with immortality.
Colombia - associated with soap.
Hindus - the color of Krishna.
Jews - holiness.
Middle East - protective color.
Note: Blue is often considered to be the safest global color.
PURPLE
Western cultures - royalty.
Gray Western cultures - loneliness, lifeless and loveless times or settings.
BROWN
Colombia - discourages sales.
India - the color of mourning.
WHITE
Eastern cultures - mourning, death.
Japan - white carnations signify death.
United States - purity (used in weddings).
BLACK
Western cultures - mourning, death.
SAFFRON
Hindu - sacred color (orangish peach color).
PASTELS
Korea - trust.
United States - spring, Easter; pale blue (baby blue) stands for an infant boy; pale pink stands for an infant girl.
RAINBOW
United States - Gay pride; Christianity; cultural unity.
homedesignsense.com
RED
China - symbol of celebration and luck, used in many cultural ceremonies that range from funerals to weddings.
India - color of purity (used in wedding outfits).
United States - Christmas color when combined with green; Valentines Day when combined with pink; indicates stop (danger) at traffic lights.
Eastern cultures - signifies joy when combined with white.
YELLOW
Asia - sacred, imperial.
Western cultures - joy, happiness.
ORANGE
Ireland - religious significance (Protestant).
United States - inexpensive goods, Halloween (with black).
GREEN
China - studies indicate this is not a good color choice for packaging, green hats mean a man's wife is cheating on him.
France - studies indicate this is not a good color choice for packaging.
India - the color of Islam.
Ireland - religious significance (Catholic).
Some tropical countries - associated with danger
United States - indicates go (safe) at traffic lights, environmental awareness, St. Patrick's Day, Christmas color (red and green).
BLUE
China - associated with immortality.
Colombia - associated with soap.
Hindus - the color of Krishna.
Jews - holiness.
Middle East - protective color.
Note: Blue is often considered to be the safest global color.
PURPLE
Western cultures - royalty.
Gray Western cultures - loneliness, lifeless and loveless times or settings.
BROWN
Colombia - discourages sales.
India - the color of mourning.
WHITE
Eastern cultures - mourning, death.
Japan - white carnations signify death.
United States - purity (used in weddings).
BLACK
Western cultures - mourning, death.
SAFFRON
Hindu - sacred color (orangish peach color).
PASTELS
Korea - trust.
United States - spring, Easter; pale blue (baby blue) stands for an infant boy; pale pink stands for an infant girl.
RAINBOW
United States - Gay pride; Christianity; cultural unity.
homedesignsense.com
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