Research: Do You Know What Signals Your Logo's Colors Are Sending? Color symbolism guides are a helpful starting point, but there are many factors that go into how your logo is perceived.
Published In: Harvard Business Review Digital Articles, 2025. P. 1 1 of 3
Database: Business Source Ultimate 2 of 3
Authored By: Luffarelli, Jonathan; Celhay, Franck 3 of 3
Abstract
The article focuses on the significance of color in logo design and its impact on brand perception. It highlights that while color symbolism guides can be useful, they often overlook the dual meanings of colors and the context in which they are presented. Research involving 5,730 participants revealed that background color significantly influences how logo colors are perceived, with black backgrounds often evoking negative associations and white backgrounds eliciting positive ones. The study also found that abstract logos are more affected by background color than representative logos, suggesting that brands should carefully consider their logo's color and background to effectively communicate their intended message. [Extracted from the article]
Additional Information
- Source:Harvard Business Review Digital Articles. 2025/06, p1
- Document Type:Article
- Subject Area:Psychology
- Publication Date:2025
- Accession Number:186264662
- Copyright Statement:Copyright 2025 Harvard Business Publishing. All Rights Reserved. Additional restrictions may apply including the use of this content as assigned course material. Please consult your institution's librarian about any restrictions that might apply under the license with your institution. For more information and teaching resources from Harvard Business Publishing including Harvard Business School Cases, eLearning products, and business simulations please visit hbsp.harvard.edu. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.