Public Problems: November 2009

Common connotations of colors, color symbolism, the emotions stimulated.

WHITE - purity, innocence, cleanliness, simplicity, perfection, neutrality, peace, security, chastity, humility, sterility, truth, light, snow, winter, coldness, surrender, fearfulness, hope, empty, death (in Eastern cultures), life, marriage (in Western cultures), bland.

BLACK - night, darkness, mystery, secrecy, absence, sophistication, seriousness, classy, elegance, style, evil, submission, demons, witches, space, authority, sturdiness, reliability, power, constancy, prudence, wisdom, intelligence, anarchism, mourning, sorrow.

BROWN - wood, nature, earth, soil, rusticity, simplicity, tribal, primitive, comfort, strength, solid, reliable, credible, maturity, humility, stability, conservancy, tradition, dullness, boorishness, heaviness, poverty.

VIOLET - magic, ambivalent.

PURPLE - royalty, dignity, justice, wisdom, nostalgia, mourning, ceremony, ambiguity, uncertainty, fantasy, dreams, luxury, wealth, sophistication, exaggeration, feminine, passion, romance, sensitivity, coolness, mist, shadows, mysterious, mystic, profanity, bisexuality, pride.

RED - love, excitement, sex, passion, danger, warning, warmth, heat, fire, blood, power, energy, strength, bravery, aggression, food, impulse, action, adventure. Red is an attention grabber.

ORANGE - energy, enthusiasm, autumn, youthful, happiness, balance, warmth, fire, contentment, fruitfulness, wholesomeness, strong, generous, endurance, strength, ambition, comfort, creativity, celebration, fun, reliability, affordability.

PINK - romantic, marriage, joy, sweetness, affection, sensuality, innocence, youthfulness, tenderness, calm, soft hearted, softness, femininity, spring, gratitude, appreciation, admiration, sympathy, health, love, flirtatiousness.

YELLOW - light, sunlight, summer, joy, happiness, optimism, purity, curiosity, cheerfulness, amusement, understanding, brightness, warmth, playfulness, creativity, intelligence, idealism, wealth, gold, hope, air, liberalism, cowardice, quarantine, hazards, dishonesty, avarice, weakness, femininity.

BLUE - sky, water, ice, sea, ocean, coolness, trustworthiness, confidence, security, success, seriousness, power, reliability, travel, freedom, truth, solitude, wisdom, trust, loyalty, peaceful, calmness, masculinity.

INDIGO - spirituality, intuition, wisdom.

GREEN - nature, spring, fertility, youth, growth, vigor, environment, health, healing, life, youth, harmony, wealth, money (US), good luck, calm, renewal, hope, fertility, rebirth, freedom, go, sincerity, generosity, grass, coldness, greed, cunning.

GRAY (or GREY) - exclusivity, elegance, humility, respect, reverence, stability, wisdom, balance, reserved, neutrality, indifference, old age, pessimism, boredom, decay, mourning, formality.
Silver: prestige, cold, scientific.

Exciting, warm colors: red, orange, pink, yellow.
Calming, cool colors: blue, green, violet, purple.
Neutral colors: beige, ivory, taupe (brownish gray), black, gray, white.