The average child uses 6-8 colors in their drawings. Adults? Just 2-3.
Color researcher Karen Haller found that by age 15, we start defaulting to “safer” choices. Navy. Gray. Beige. The trinity of tiptoeing through life.
“Color is a power which directly influences the soul.” – Wassily Kandinsky
The Corporate Camouflage
A 2023 Pantone study revealed that 76% of Fortune 500 companies use blue in their logos. We’re collectively hiding in plain sight.
Breaking the Beige Barrier
The most innovative companies embrace bold colors. Google. Apple. Nike. They understand what children instinctively know – color creates emotion, emotion drives action.
Research from the University of British Columbia shows exposure to bright colors increases creative output by 44%.
The Cost of Conformity
We’re paying a price for our chromatic cowardice. Johns Hopkins neuroscientists found that adults who regularly interact with vibrant colors show heightened neural activity in regions associated with joy and novelty.
“The moment you choose to play it safe, you’ve chosen to play small.” – Seth Godin
The next time you reach for that gray shirt, ask yourself: Are you dressing for success or dressing for invisibility?
Your next bold move might just start with a bold color.
