Using Colour Trends in Modern Signs

In the world of design, colour is a powerful tool that can influence emotions, perceptions and behaviour. So naturally the colours you choose in your designs and your signage will have a big impact on your business. Choosing the right colours for signs and custom visuals isn’t just an aesthetic choice, but a strategic one, and since colour trends are constantly evolving, using modern colours in your signage could have a very positive impact on your business. 

The Psychology of Colour 

Before we dive into colour trends and what they are, you need to know the basics of colour psychology. This is when you use different colours to evoke different emotions or actions, or affect how a customer sees your brand. Colour is something human beings have an instinctive response to and you can harness that to attract your ideal customers or inspire action. Here are some common associations with colours: 

Red: Passion, energy, excitement, urgency. 

Blue: Trust, calmness, reliability, professionalism. 

Yellow: Optimism, happiness, friendliness, creativity. 

Green: Nature, health, growth, tranquillity. 

Purple: Luxury, creativity, royalty, elegance. 

Orange: Enthusiasm, warmth, vitality, playfulness. 

If we asked you to think of 3 household brands and the colours they use in their logos, would those associations match up? Do you think Morrisons are looking to project health and happiness? Do Coca-Cola want you to associate them with energy? And is it surprising that the NHS chose the colour blue, to instil all of those values and trust in the healthcare system? 

Bringing it closer to home, why did you choose your brands colours and what did you want them to represent? Your branding colours play a significant role in the perception of your brand (whether you meant them to or not) and so do the colours you choose for your signage. 

Trend-Based Colours 

Of course, if you’re trying to keep up with the trends to make sure your signage is relatable, then you might want to incorporate some of the more ‘trendy’ colours. Yes, there are colour trends, and just like in fashion they are ever-changing. Staying up-to-date with colour trends is a great way to keep your branding and messaging fresh and relevant, without needing to invest in a full branding refresh. There are a few different ways you can track colour trends: 

• Design Publications: Design magazines, blogs and websites often feature pieces on colour trends, so visiting regularly can provide you with valuable insights. 

• Pantone Colour of the Year: Pantone are a leading authority on colour, and every year in December they announce a ‘Pantone Colour of the Year’ for the following year. This is considered the new ‘it’ colour and influences a lot of design decisions across all sorts of industries. The pantone colour for 2024 is ‘Peach Fuzz’, a warm toned colour that’s a perfect blend of orange and pink. 

• Social Media: Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are fantastic places to find visual inspiration and following designers on these pages can give you some great ideas for your own branding and signage. 

• Industry Conferences: If you’re really keen, design industry conferences and seminars can give you first hand exposure to emerging colour trends and how you could use them. 

• Market Research: Doing hands-on research can help you see what colours resonate with your target audience. Customer preferences can vary after all, so you’ll need to choose your design colours to align both with your branding and their expectations. 

Brand Consistency Is Key 

While it is important to keep up with colour trends and use colour psychology within your signage, it shouldn’t come at the cost of your branding. Your brands colours should be distinctive, recognisable and consistent so that customers can easily associate them with your business. So when designing signage for your business it’s a delicate balance between brand recognition and modern design styles. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t bring some more trendy or psychology-based colours into your designs. Experiment with using them as accent colours, or as complementary elements that can enhance your brand’s core colours. It’s no different than using seasonal colours in your designs, and it lets you stay current while keeping that all important brand identity sacred. 

Using colour trends in your signage is a good way to improve brand visibility, keep your branding fresh and relevant in an ever-changing market. But it can be difficult to figure out how to use colour in your signage without it feeling disjointed. That’s where we can help. 

As well as being expert sign makers, our team also includes some very talented designers whose entire job is creating the visuals for the signs we print. They can take your existing branding, fuse it with trending colours to produce stunning architectural displays and signage that turns heads and sticks in your customers’ minds. We’re always happy to discuss ideas and offer design support, so if you would like to know more, just get in touch with the team today. 

For more information on Using Colour Trends in Modern Signs talk to Signwrite Studios Ltd