I am loving the new Studio Dell line and the Designed for Dell accessories to match. The colors are so magnificent, they have inspired me to upgrade my personal computer. However, I am having serious color identity crisis. I like them all. The color I choose will be an expression of my personality and style, making it a big decision and one I must choose wisely.
So what does it mean about you when you have an affinity for a color? Based on many studies I encountered in my cognitive neuroscience research days, here is my take on the meaning of colors in Western Culture. Note, these are not scientifically based. They’re merely my observations and conclusions:
Spring Green: Green can mean life, nature and well being and is favored by well-balanced people. It is said that people who like green have a tremendous amount of self-respect. It can also imply healing, which is one of the reasons Egyptians wore green eye liner.
Plum Purple: Associated with royalty, wealth, opulence, magic and mystery. People who like purple are said to have good judgment. It can bring peace of mind when one is surrounded by it, which is why it is often times the color for spiritual fulfillment and a favorite among children.
Flamingo Pink: Pink provides feelings of caring, tenderness, self-worth and acceptance and most heavily symbolizes love and beauty. Pink can be so effective in neutralizing disorder and violence that some prisons use limited deep pink tones to diffuse aggressive behavior.
Jet Black: Black is one of the most misinterpreted colors. Some scientists do not consider black an actual color, rather black is a lack of all color. Black can mean stability, elegance, death and mystery. People who like black can be said to carry a sense of potential and possibility.
Midnight Blue: Symbolizes youth, truth and peace. Blue can bring about inspiration and sincerity. It can provide a calming effect, making it a great color to use in the home around babies. It is thought to open communication and broaden one’s perspective in learning new information.
Ruby Red: Red is associated with action, confidence and courage. It is most chosen by extroverts and can mean a high degree of passion and zest for life. On the flipside, red can also mean temper or anger and can be associated with danger.
Graphite Grey: Grey symbolizes security, maturity and dependability. People who favor grey are often times the lone wolves of the pack and are effective in neutralizing situations. It is a stabilizing and non-invasive color, especially when put next to other more vibrant colors.
Tangerine Orange: Symbolizing vitality and endurance, orange is a power and healing color. Known to stimulate creativity and enthusiasm, people who like orange are usually thoughtful and sincere.
There is an abundance of fascinating research on the meaning, symbolism and sensory responses to color. From the colors we choose to the colors we see, there is not doubt that they play a big role in how we are perceived and our mood. Hopefully this guide will help you with your decision as it has helped me.
I’m think I’m going to go with Orange! How about you? What color best represents you?
July 30th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Its a tough choice to make if you base it on the information provided. I’m a blue or black person depending on the item and how it looks. I also like the green but but wouldn’t like to carry around a notebook that color all the time.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Personnally I am going for the Orange too. Big reason for choosing this color is that its the preferred color for my Linux distribution of choice, Ubuntu
Thanks for providing this option Dell!
July 30th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
@jervis961, agree. Green isn’t for everyone.
@cvasilak, happy to hear you like the orange, too. Makes sense that it will go well for a linux run system!!!
July 30th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
I like most of them, so it would be a hard decision for me to make.
July 31st, 2008 at 5:22 am
I hadn’t thought about the orange/Linux correlation. I had an orange Mazda 6 once (my favorite car over the years) but my wife kept complaining about the color. I did get quite a bit of attention with it.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:24 am
@sugarbear, I agree. Everyday, a different color may make more sense.
@jervis961, just tell your wife the Mazda matched Linux…I’m sure she’ll understand.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:49 am
I’m sure she wouldn’t have. She called it my mid life crisis car.