Illustration by HBR Staff
Color plays a powerful role in branding, marketing, and communication—and a logo is often where that power shows up first. Logo colors are more than design details. They’re strategic tools used to influence how customers feel about, respond to, and even remember a brand. The right palette can reinforce a brand’s identity, signal its values, and create instant emotional connections. Think red to spark excitement, purple to convey sophistication, or green to suggest eco-friendliness.
These popular associations are often reinforced by color symbolism charts and guides designed to help businesses, brands, and marketing teams choose the best color for their logos. You’ve likely seen them: simple graphics linking colors to brand personality traits like trust, creativity, competence, or passion.