How to choose the perfect logo colour for a brand

Four examples of successful logo colours
(Image credit: Woolmark / McDonald's / BP / Cadbury)

If you're trying to choose the right logo colour for your next project, there's a lot to consider. The psychology of colour plays a pivotal role in building a brand association, whether you’re crafting a symbol-based logo or a wordmark. Not only do different colours provoke different emotions, but the combinations of colours used can have specific effects, too. 

The world's biggest brands are very aware of how important their logo colours are, from Cadbury's ownership of specific shade of purple to brands using green to appear more environmentally conscious. Below, we offer five tips to help you successfully use colour theory in your logo design work. If you'd like to learn to help guide your choice of the right logo colour, see our guide to colour theory. For more general advice, see our pieces on how to design a logo design and steps for creating better logos.

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Nick Carson
Brand writer and consultant

Nick has worked with world-class agencies including Wolff Olins, Taxi Studio and Vault49 on brand storytelling, tone of voice and verbal strategy for global brands such as Virgin, TikTok, and Bite Back 2030. Nick launched the Brand Impact Awards in 2013 while editor of Computer Arts, and remains chair of judges. He's written for Creative Bloq on design and branding matters since the site's launch.

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