Yellow is one of those colors lots and lots of people have strong opinions about. It's one of the most energetic and happy colors on the color wheel, making it a color popular for office and school walls to trigger positive thinking and spark creativity.

The energy associated with yellow makes it a color of high speed, lots of thought and productivity, which is inspiring to some, but can also exhaust and create anxiety in others. It's often paired with colors like blue to calm its bubbliness, or red to spiral it to even greater heights.

With such strong emotions being evoked by the color, companies do well to incorporate it in their logos, as long as they know how to use it. Below we have compiled 15 yellow company logos and the message they seek to inspire.

Energy

Yellow is a color so energetic, sparks are basically emanating from it. That makes it applicable to a large array of businesses in sectors as diverse as sports, electricity, nutrition, renewable energy as well as fossil fuels and oil. Pair your yellow with some red for an even higher impact to the brain.

Caution and Safety

Yellow is the brightest hue on the color spectrum and very easily seen from far away. It's often used for warning signs and is the color dividing red and green on traffic lights, so the first to catch your attention when the lights are changing. It's a no-brainer then why it's so hugely popular with companies needing to be seen straight away – building tools and safety equipment, taxis and school buses all utilize the color yellow to make their products stand out easily.

Food

Some colors are proven to stimulate appetite and encourage eating, and yellow is definitely one of them. Many traditional cultures especially in North and South America especially associate yellow strongly with food, as it is the color of corn, maize and many grains. And let's be honest, if an industry giant as ubiquitous as McDonalds uses it for their golden arches, chances are the research is in and has confirmed – if you're in the business of watering mouths, yellow is your color.

Communication

The upbeat energy and association with critical thinking and brain activity makes yellow the color of the communicator. If your business is in the business of communication or media, this might be a color to consider. If it's good enough for the almighty Post-it note, it's good enough for you, right? Although, full disclosure: the Post-it's color was actually a total fluke.

Fun

You probably have noticed by now that the mainstay of yellow is its energy, which translates into critical thought, food cravings and the desire to engage with others. But at the end of the day, what could be more energetic than some good old-fashioned fun? The entertainment industry and any product aimed at kids have long utilized the color yellow to attract minds ready for some stimulation and play. And if you're in a business like Chupa Chups, and want to be seen as both fun and tasty, the decision has basically been made for you whether you like it or not.

Yellow may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's certainly got great applications if you want your business to have positive vibes and an electric reputation. So stop thinking about it and give a bright, happy yellow a go.

Comment on This Article:

Does a good yellow logo brighten your business? Or do you hate the color with a passion? Cast your vote in the comments!

Want More?

There sure is a lot of talent around these parts. Check out these additional resources on BrandCrowd and DesignCrowd:

Yellow Logos (on BrandCrowd)

The Power of Color: 15 Refreshing Green Logo Designs

The Power of Color: 15 Outstanding Blue Logo Designs

50 Beautiful Riveting Red Logos

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Written by Hanna Schenkel on Monday, July 13, 2015

Hanna Schenkel is a freelance writer, editor and marketing specialist based in Sydney. Her critical and creative work has been published nationally and anthologised. Get in touch via LinkedIn.