Dux D’Lux will be closed on Friday, July 3 in celebration of Independence Day, but I wanted to leave you with a little red, white and blue post. One of our restaurant clients once asked for red as his wordmark color, thinking it was a very simple request. “I thought there was just red,” he said. If you’ve ever taken a look at the Pantone color swatch book for printing colors, however, you know that there are approximately 68.374 reds depending on how you see some of those raspberry shades in the 220 – 30s. The blue choices are just as prevalent.

This 4th of July, we’re highlighting 5 of our favorite red and blue combinations from the Pantone Matching System. Don’t forget to throw in your own dose of extra white space to round out the holiday palette.

When we specify red or blue for a project, check out some of the cultural associations with the colors we consider. Who knew you could say so much without any text!

Red often signifies excitement and high energy. It can be an aggressive color, but also is perceived as dynamic, passionate and even sexy. Red stimulates the appetite (smart restaurant client!) and in some cases can signify danger or connote a warning. As red gets deeper into burgundy, it becomes richer and more luxurious. As it brightens toward fuschias and hot pinks it becomes more youthful and playful. As it lightens to pinks and rosy tones, it becomes more romantic and feminine. (More about what red means)

Blue has almost universal associations with sky and water, and all their refreshing qualities. It is perceived as a constant in our lives and therefore communicates reliability, trustworthiness and dependability. Blue is the most calming color. As blue darkens to navy, it becomes more powerful, but also more approachable than black. As blue brightens to more electric colors, it becomes energetic and engaging. (More about what blue means)

Check back next week for back to school and tailgating specials, and a preview of our new website! Happy 4th of July from the Dux!