Color Schemes - A Look Into How Big Brands Use Color
mckenziealisonholder • June 17, 2020
Color is associated with mood. Color combinations can evoke specific emotions in customers. Are you looking for a cool feeling or a natural bright feeling? It all depends on which colors you use and how you use them. Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding on what color scheme is best for your purpose.
Picking the right tone conveys what type of emotion your design evokes. Tone is different from contrast or color. Tone is how bright or dark you want the colors to be.
Let’s talk about red and pink. Both colors originate in the same hue but often evoke different feelings. Red is mature and strong, eliciting love and anger; while pink can feel immature and childish, candy and barbie.
Red is a bold color. It can be used to draw attention and can often be used as a statement color. Brands such as Coca Cola© and KitKat© have been using red as their staple to draw attention to their brand.
Tone
Picking the right tone conveys what type of emotion your design evokes. Tone is different from contrast or color. Tone is how bright or dark you want the colors to be.
Let’s talk about red and pink. Both colors originate in the same hue but often evoke different feelings. Red is mature and strong, eliciting love and anger; while pink can feel immature and childish, candy and barbie.
Red is a bold color. It can be used to draw attention and can often be used as a statement color. Brands such as Coca Cola© and KitKat© have been using red as their staple to draw attention to their brand.
Loreal Paris© decided to use red in a way that drew attention and provided confidence. They created a dark and challenging red.
Green is often a color associated with natural bright feelings or it can be used to show the feeling of disgust or nausea. Depending on how you use green, it can convey what emotion you wish to project, and influence your customer’s willingness to purchase your products or services.
Green is often a color associated with natural bright feelings or it can be used to show the feeling of disgust or nausea. Depending on how you use green, it can convey what emotion you wish to project, and influence your customer’s willingness to purchase your products or services.
Sprite© has been using green to express the feeling of drinking their soda. It is crisp, refreshing, and light. It is a pleasant beverage to drink on a hot summer day.
Mountain Dew, on the other hand has been using green as an energizing color. A color that makes you want to get up and move.
When you’ve decided on which color best suits your product or services, it is important to consider the impact of complementary colors. Coca Cola has always used Red and White as their scheme. The white brightens up the red giving an overall friendly tone. Brands like Target , Heins , and H&M have followed suit. White can also tone down the red depending on whether you use it for the background or the focal point.
Netflix is a great example of showing the difference in complimentary colors. Each different combination of colors has changed the feel of the overall brand.
Influence of Other Colors
When you’ve decided on which color best suits your product or services, it is important to consider the impact of complementary colors. Coca Cola has always used Red and White as their scheme. The white brightens up the red giving an overall friendly tone. Brands like Target , Heins , and H&M have followed suit. White can also tone down the red depending on whether you use it for the background or the focal point.
Netflix is a great example of showing the difference in complimentary colors. Each different combination of colors has changed the feel of the overall brand.
Their first color combination gave it a sort of movie theater feeling. Watch the movies from the comfort of your own home. They are bringing the theater to you.
Their next logo was modernized. The bright colors are still used but the feeling has been taken down a few notches. It is a family service after all. The white tones down the red giving it a less intense feel.
Their current logo has replaced the white with black giving the entire brand a more mature attitude. After all, they have gone from simple movie renting to creating several of their own successful series.
Looking for a way to spice things up? Changing your branding colors, icons or typography can really brighten up your design and give you a great new look. Whether you’re looking for sophistication or urban chic, a great re-branding effor can be a great way to display your company's unique style. Can’t do it yourself? Check out our services and contact us to get started on your future design.
Contact Us
Looking for a way to spice things up? Changing your branding colors, icons or typography can really brighten up your design and give you a great new look. Whether you’re looking for sophistication or urban chic, a great re-branding effor can be a great way to display your company's unique style. Can’t do it yourself? Check out our services and contact us to get started on your future design.
Recent Posts

By Lawrence M
•
May 7, 2026
What a journey it's been with Aaron Potts on the "NIRM Custom Banner and Digital Display Design" project! We kicked things off in early February 2026, embarking on a creative mission to craft two eye-catching physical banners and a sleek digital TV slide display. Our goal was to ensure Aaron had high-resolution, print-ready files tailored specifically for vinyl with all the necessary grommets and pole pockets, alongside perfectly optimized digital assets for screen display. Our process began with a strategic design phase, setting the stage for what was to come. We then moved into a collaborative build and revision cycle, aiming for total alignment with Aaron's brand vision. Throughout this project, our team, including Alex Holder and Aaron Delarosa, worked diligently to bring Aaron Potts’s vision to life. Communication was key, and we made sure to keep Aaron in the loop every step of the way. On February 3rd, we sent over a form to gather all the essential information to kickstart the design process, ensuring we understood exactly what Aaron was looking for. Then, on February 11th, we were thrilled to share the first design build for review! Just two days later, on February 13th, we had the second build ready for Aaron's feedback. The pace picked up as we approached completion. By February 18th, we had the third build ready for review, and soon after, the final packaged files for both the TV banner and the print banners were ready for download! There was a small hiccup with an export issue, which we promptly addressed on February 18th, messaging Aaron right away to let him know we were on it. The very next day, February 19th, we confirmed that the files had been updated with the correct DPI quality for printing, and both the TV and print banners were available through the provided links. Finally, on February 20th ( Our founder Lawrence Magana's Birthday ) , we sent a follow-up to Aaron, offering assistance with any file format questions or further updates. This project saw both the Banner Design and Digital Banner Design tasks successfully completed, a testament to the teamwork and dedication of everyone involved. It's been a fantastic experience bringing Aaron's custom graphic design needs to fruition. We're proud to have delivered tailor-made, high-quality assets that truly reflect his brand. We're excited to see these banners and digital displays in action, making a real impact for Aaron Potts!

By lawrencedesign1
•
December 13, 2024
Dual Pixel teamed up with Built Bar to create an engaging motion graphics video that showcases the delicious flavors of their protein bars. The concept revolved around a dynamic tornado of vibrant ingredients—such as nuts, chocolate, and fruit—being swirled together and packed into a Built Bar. This creative approach aimed to visually highlight the product's appeal while capturing the attention of potential customers.

By lawrencedesign1
•
December 11, 2024
Dual Pixel's video team collaborated with Built Bar, a local Utah company renowned for its innovative protein bars. Our task was to create an engaging motion graphics animation that effectively communicates the unique selling point of Built Bar's products: the use of REAL Cookie Dough.
By lawrencedesign1
•
December 11, 2024
In a highly competitive bidding environment, the ability to present proposals effectively is crucial for success. Dual Pixel collaborated with STADLER to design a Premium Proposal Box specifically for the Utah Transit Authority's TRAX organization. This innovative solution allowed STADLER to showcase their proposal in a compelling manner, making it stand out among numerous submissions.







