Scientists in the field of color psychology have spent years studying the relationship between colors, attention, memory performance, and psychological effects. Over the next series of blogs, we explore various colors and how they impact student emotions, behavior, focus, and information retainment for optimal educational growth.
Colour is believed to be the most important visual experience to human beings (Adams FM, Osgood CE, 1973). Look around. How many colors do you see? Be mindful of how these colors make you feel. If you are in an office environment, do the colors and textures support creativity? Can you concentrate or are you distracted by the color scheme? If you are at home, do the colors make you feel safe, comfortable, and calm?
These types of questions are all too common in interior design for commercial and residential spaces but are often overlooked in education. The same thoughtful consideration should be given to the learning environments that support our future generations.
COLOR PSYCHOLOGY FOR EDUCATION
Colors for Learning: The impact of Red
First up, we'll explore the color red! An intense color often that often triggers very emotional responses.
red is commonly associated with:
- Energy
- Danger
- Strength + Power
- Determination
- Passion + Love
Red is the color of fire and love, so it is associated with energy, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, and desire. Because it has the ability to provoke such strong emotions, it should be used thoughtfully in learning environments. Paired with cooler colors, red would be the ultimate energizer!
Warm colors such as red, orange, and yellow have been recognized as the preferred colors to maintain learners’ attention and stimulate their active participation.
use red as a stimulant to:
- Encourage creativity
- Stir up conversation
- Improve performance/concentration
- Inspire movement
- Increase alertness
Consider using red in common areas where collaboration, conversation, and creativity are encouraged.
red has the ability to:
- Enhance human metabolism
- Increase respiration rate
- Raise blood pressure
Maker spaces come in all shapes and sizes with (everything AND the kitchen sink): tools, technology, arts and crafts materials, and more to spark innovation, inventive entrepreneurship, critical thinking, problem-solving and mentoring. Because red sparks creativity, exploration, and inspires action, STEAM labs would be the perfect environment for this fiery color!
Stimulate conversation and socialization in community spaces such as cafeterias and outdoor areas.
three tips for designing with red in learning environments:
- Use sparingly: Be mindful of how powerful this color can be. Balance with calming colors so the red doesn't overstimulate.
- Combat boredom: Use red strategically in learning zones where students are asked to complete repetitive learning activities.
- Think maker space: Help keep students energized and inspire creativity by adding flexible red seating to STEAM, robotics, media, and technology centers.
1. Adams FM, Osgood CE. A cross-cultural study of the affective meaning of color. J Cross Cult Psychol. 1973;4(2):135–156. [Google Scholar]
Mar 8, 2022
FAQs
Red is the color of fire and love, so it is associated with energy, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, and desire. Because it has the ability to provoke such strong emotions, it should be used thoughtfully in learning environments. Paired with cooler colors, red would be the ultimate energizer!
How does the color red affect learning? ›
Red is the color of fire and love, so it is associated with energy, danger, strength, power, determination as well as passion, and desire. Because it has the ability to provoke such strong emotions, it should be used thoughtfully in learning environments. Paired with cooler colors, red would be the ultimate energizer!
What is the psychological significance of color red? ›
Red Colour Psychology: The red colour meaning is associated with excitement, passion, danger, energy, and action. You might've noticed that some brands use red for 'order now' buttons or for their packaging as a way to stand out on the shelf.
What are the best colors for learning environment? ›
Green is an excellent colour for improving concentration and promoting restfulness and calm because it is a low wavelength colour. It is also a good colour to use in classrooms, as the yellow in green encourages creativity whilst the blue in green is calming and improves concentration.
Why is red for education? ›
A more lengthy definition of RedForEd is: the RedForEd movement is a battle cry for a nonpartisan education reform movement across the nation. Funding is being gutted, teachers are walking out on their jobs, due to their pay becoming stagnant.
Is red a good color for a classroom? ›
Shades of red may help enhance creativity and improve alertness, making them a great choice for classroom applications. However, it's important not to go overboard with an all-red classroom, as red can also spur anxiety and excessive excitement.
How important is the color red? ›
The color red is significant in many cultures. It is associated with love in Western culture, and it symbolizes good fortune and joy in Asian cultures.
What does the color red do to the brain? ›
Secondly, red seems to possess emotion-eliciting properties. Moller et al. (2009) have shown that people tend to associate red with negative, danger-bearing emotions, since it is the color of fire, blood, anger, and sometimes of poisonous or dangerous animals. Yet, red does not always signal hostility or danger.
What color catches people's attention? ›
Colors that Grab Attention
As a bold color that stands out, it's easily noticeable, even from a distance. In addition, red has been shown to increase the heart rate and stimulate the brain, making it a powerful aid in attracting attention. Blue is another notable color for catching the eye.
What is the red color theory? ›
The Psychology of Red
Red is a colour that commands attention. It's associated with passion, energy, and warmth. In colour psychology, red is known to stimulate the senses, increase heart rate, and create a sense of urgency.
Realistic anxiety experienced by the main character is when Meilin feels embarrassed, anxious, and scared, so she eventually turns into a red panda. Meilin Lee, the movie's main character, her transformation into a red panda was started by shame for her friends and guilt for her mother. She experienced moral anxiety.
What is the psychology of people who wear red? ›
Wearing red might make someone feel more confident and important. Another theory is that red is a color that is associated with passion and excitement. Wearing red might make someone feel more alive and energetic. It is also possible that people wear red because they simply like the way it looks.
What is the psychology of color in education? ›
While elementary learners tend to gravitate more towards the yellows, reds, and oranges, high school learners tend to learn best in environments with the cooler colors: greens, blues, and mauves. The primary color wheel warmer colors tend to boost energy, excitement for learning, and mood.
What is the color for education? ›
Our journey through the colors of education wouldn't be complete without a deep dive into the calming world of blue. Picture a classroom adorned in shades of blue - a serene, tranquil environment that promotes focused learning. Blue is often associated with feelings of calmness, serenity, and relaxation.
How does color impact learning? ›
Color can enhance or impair learning, morale and behaviors. Studies have shown that color affects a student's attention span and perception of time. Visual stimulation actually rewires the brain, making stronger connections while fostering visual thinking, problem solving and creativity.
What does the color red do to your brain? ›
Secondly, red seems to possess emotion-eliciting properties. Moller et al. (2009) have shown that people tend to associate red with negative, danger-bearing emotions, since it is the color of fire, blood, anger, and sometimes of poisonous or dangerous animals. Yet, red does not always signal hostility or danger.
What is the effect of the color red? ›
It has been proposed that different colors are associated with specific meanings. For example, red has been shown to enhance, among others, perceived attractiveness, dominance, anger, and aggressiveness (Elliot and Niesta, 2008; Stephen et al., 2012; Elliot and Maier, 2014; Wiedemann et al., 2015).
How does red affect memory? ›
Do certain colors improve memory? In one study, students in British Columbia scored higher on memory tasks when completing them on a red background. But it depends on where you live, researchers say. In North America, for example, red is aligned with danger or stopping, which increases the natural response to red.
What color triggers learning? ›
Blue is best used for learning situations which are challenging. Blue paper, blue ink, or blue highlighting can be used to help improve reading comprehension too.
