Colors in Web Design: Where Purple Works!

Color is an essential part of the design. Web designers should keep in mind that every color has its symbolism and is capable of stirring different emotions in visitors to a website.

You, probably know that there are cool, warm and neutral colors; that green is associated with health, growth and wealth, and sometimes it signifies spring, renewal, and fertility, as well as, jealousy or inexperience. Black represents power, elegance, and sophistication… Every color has something more behind it – this is what they call color theory.

There are many works describing the basics of color theory, and its implementation in web design and even in internet marketing.

There also are great tools that can help you choose the right color palette for your website.

But today we’d like to focus on one color and the way how it can be used in web design. It is purple. Purple is a combination of red and blue. It is one of the most intriguing colors that symbolize creativity. The color is considered to be spiritual and mysterious. Darker shades of purple are associated with luxury, wealth and royalty, while lavender hues represent romance and nostalgia.

Another list includes wisdom, dignity, independence, creativity, mystery, ambition, luxury. The combination of pink and purple has a feminine appeal.

Purple can also have some hidden symbolism depending on the cultures and countries it is used in: for example, in Thailand, it represents mourning, in Feng Shui – physical and mental healing, spiritual awareness, and in Catholicism purple is the symbol of death, mourning, and crucifixion.

Have a look at the screenshots of some websites where purple is the dominant color of the design.

As it can be seen above many “purple” websites are devoted to design, modern technologies, and creativity in general. Perhaps, it’s because these spheres are irrevocably connected with some sort of awareness – something mystical and previously unknown – the hidden meaning of purple?

What do you think about it? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments.