Recently I came across an interesting article from Classic Exhibits. In this article they talk about the importance of color and the psychology behind it. Color scheme is very important when designing trade show graphics for an exhibit booth.
Setting A Mood With Color
The color scheme you select for your booth is critical. Color affects our perceptions of a space, so when planning your booth choose your colors carefully. If you have hired an exhibit designer, he or she can help determine the most appropriate color scheme for your booth.
A great deal of research has been conducted surrounding the psychology of color. A recent study published in the journal, Nature, analyzed the effect of uniform color on athletes, such as soccer players, boxers, and wrestlers. The study concluded that the athletes wearing red won more than sixty percent of the time. The scientists who conducted the study were convinced that the red uniforms gave the winning team a psychological edge. You might want to consider red clothing for your booth staff.
Colors are often associated with temperature or with certain emotions. These are culturally derived meanings and they can have a very real effect on people. Colors such as red, orange, and yellow are considered warm colors and can have a stimulating effect. The New York Times recently published an article concerning color schemes for schools, and found that reds, yellows, and oranges were often used in hallways to speed up children in halls and gyms.
Blues and greens are considered cool colors and can have a calming effect, especially when combined with trade show lights. Blues and grays are also associated with ice, snow, or winter. If your company sold skis for example you might want to consider using these colors.
Gray and beige, are more neutral colors, and have associations also. Gray or silver can take on a futuristic, gee-whiz connotation. Beiges and browns can be used to suggest a nostalgic, retro feel in a booth. White can be used to create a more expansive feel in a space, while black creates a more confined feel.
Factor in your company’s home base or the location of the show when considering color schemes. If your company is based in the Southwest, browns and tans might work for you. Or, if the tradeshow you are presenting at is located near the coast, consider blues or greens. You should consider color selection to be one more item in your arsenal as you compete for the customers attention at a busy tradeshow.
