Here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester, we are Manchester’s leading web design professionals. From Wigan to Southport, we work with companies across Manchester and the surrounding region to deliver high quality web design solutions that really get results. As a result, we have produced this guide to using red colours effectively throughout web design.
Which emotions does the colour red invoke?
The color red can be used for a number of different purposes throughout web design. . But how can this be used effectively? Well, to begin to answer this question, we will need to know exactly what message the colour red can portray. And unfortunately, the answer to this is not clear. Red can mean many things, including:
- anger
- danger
- passion
- love
But these meanings all have a common strength. They are each deep, strong, psychological responses, which shows that the colour red is powerful. And just because it can be a complicated colour, this doesn’t mean it should be avoided. In fact, many brands have built their business on the colour red, including:
- McDonald’s
- Coca-Cola
- Ferrari
What are the considerations for using red effectively in web design?
So, if red is a complex colour, with a range of meanings, how can you use it effectively to achieve your desired results? Well, there are a number of ways, including:
- Using red as an accent colour- Different shades of red can be very effective in different ways. Bold, vibrant shades for example can be most effective when used as an accent colour for drawing attention to key elements. Borders around images, or significant red words, among black typography can be very effective when an eye-catching shade of red is used.
- Using red as a background colour- In this instance, a bright, eye-catching shade of red will probably be too overwhelming, and hit your audience like a wall. But there are other options. Paler shades of red, or deep, rich reds can both be very effective for background colours. You could even apply a colour gradient, fading from one shade of red to another.
- Secondary colour- Instead of applying red as the tertiary colour, you could instead decide to use the colour red more frequently, as the secondary colour. This will be used for many parts of the design itself, including icons, headings and lists. As a result, it is essential to choose the right shade of red to match your branding.
- Red typography- red typography above the fold is a great way to capture attention and pique the interest of potential customers and clients, as soon as the website loads. Its important to ensure that there is enough contrast between the red lettering and the background colour to ensure the legibility of the typography. This is even more essential for mobile web design where the screen is a smaller size.
For more information or advice, or for high quality, professional web design solutions, get in touch with the experts today, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester.