# Logo Color Psychology

## Primary Color Meanings

### Blue
- **Psychology:** Trust, stability, professionalism, calm
- **Industries:** Finance, healthcare, tech, corporate
- **Hex Examples:** Navy #003366, Royal #0055A4, Sky #0EA5E9
- **Pairings:** White, gold, light gray

### Red
- **Psychology:** Energy, passion, urgency, excitement
- **Industries:** Food, sports, entertainment, sales
- **Hex Examples:** Crimson #DC2626, Scarlet #EF4444, Burgundy #9F1239
- **Pairings:** White, black, gold
- **Caution:** Avoid for healthcare (blood connotation)

### Green
- **Psychology:** Growth, nature, health, sustainability
- **Industries:** Eco, wellness, organic, finance (growth)
- **Hex Examples:** Forest #228B22, Sage #2E8B57, Mint #10B981
- **Pairings:** White, brown, blue

### Yellow/Gold
- **Psychology:** Optimism, warmth, luxury, attention
- **Industries:** Food, children, luxury (gold), energy
- **Hex Examples:** Gold #D4AF37, Amber #F59E0B, Lemon #FACC15
- **Pairings:** Black, navy, dark brown

### Purple
- **Psychology:** Creativity, wisdom, luxury, mystery
- **Industries:** Beauty, creative, spiritual, premium
- **Hex Examples:** Royal #7C3AED, Lavender #A78BFA, Deep #581C87
- **Pairings:** Gold, white, pink

### Orange
- **Psychology:** Friendly, energetic, confident, youthful
- **Industries:** Food, sports, entertainment, retail
- **Hex Examples:** Tangerine #F97316, Coral #FB923C, Burnt #EA580C
- **Pairings:** White, navy, dark gray

### Black
- **Psychology:** Sophistication, power, elegance, authority
- **Industries:** Luxury, fashion, tech, premium
- **Pairings:** White, gold, silver
- **Note:** Use for high-end positioning

### White
- **Psychology:** Purity, simplicity, cleanliness, modern
- **Use:** Backgrounds, negative space, contrast
- **Pairings:** Any color (universal neutral)

## Color Combinations by Industry

| Industry | Primary | Secondary | Accent | Avoid |
|----------|---------|-----------|--------|-------|
| Tech | Blue, Purple | Gray, White | Teal, Green | Brown, Beige |
| Healthcare | Blue, Green | Teal, White | Light Purple | Red, Black |
| Finance | Navy, Blue | Gold, Gray | Green | Bright colors |
| Food | Red, Orange | Yellow, Brown | Green | Blue (appetite suppressant) |
| Fashion | Black, White | Gold, Blush | Navy | Neon (unless intentional) |
| Eco | Green, Brown | Beige, Blue | Yellow | Neon, Black |
| Children | Multi-color | Pastels | Bright accents | Dark, muted |

## Color Harmony Types

### Monochromatic
Single color with tints/shades. Safe, cohesive.

### Complementary
Opposite colors (blue-orange). High contrast, vibrant.

### Analogous
Adjacent colors (blue-teal-green). Harmonious, natural.

### Triadic
Three evenly spaced colors. Balanced, dynamic.

## Accessibility Considerations

- Minimum contrast ratio: 4.5:1 (WCAG AA)
- Avoid red-green only indicators
- Test in grayscale for clarity
- Consider colorblind users (~8% of males)

## Quick Reference Palettes

**Tech Professional:**
Primary: #6366F1 | Secondary: #8B5CF6 | Accent: #06B6D4

**Eco Sustainable:**
Primary: #228B22 | Secondary: #2E8B57 | Accent: #DEB887

**Luxury Premium:**
Primary: #1C1917 | Secondary: #D4AF37 | Accent: #FFFFFF

**Healthcare Trust:**
Primary: #0077B6 | Secondary: #00A896 | Accent: #FFFFFF

**Food Warm:**
Primary: #DC2626 | Secondary: #F97316 | Accent: #CA8A04
