The Color Purple | Meaning and Psychology
What do you think of the color purple?
Some may like the light lavender hues for their calming look, while others prefer the luxury darker amethyst shades give off.
Whichever purple you prefer, it’s undeniable that the color has a magnetic allure. Curious about how the color draws you in? Join us as we look deeper at the color purple meaning today—its history, cultural roots, and how the color influences your perception and emotion.
From its association with royalty and creativity to its spiritual and mysterious undertones, purple carries a depth of symbolism, making it a powerful choice in design and branding.
We’ll also take a look at some of the best purple logos for inspiration which you can easily recreate in our handy logo maker tool.
History of Purple
Purple is typically associated with royalty and luxury. But do you know why that is and what is the meaning of the color purple?
We can trace it to how the color was created in 1200 B.C.E. The first shade of purple, called Tyrian purple, was made from an extremely rare sea snail called Bolinus brandaris. The dye makers had to crack open their shells, extract their mucus, and expose it to sunlight to create the color.
Aside from the meticulous process, it also takes about 250,000 mollusks just to get an ounce of usable dye. To say that this Tyrian purple shade is so rare and expensive is an understatement. This is why only the rich and powerful could afford the color purple back then, establishing its enduring reputation as a symbol of luxury.
The constant use of purple among nobility has also contributed to the sophisticated purple image. Alexander the Great, Duke Han of Qi, and Queen Victoria loved and used the color in significant events.
Purple is also associated with religion and theology. In Catholic liturgy, purple represents penitence. Catholic priests wear a purple stole and chasuble during Advent and Lent. Senior pastors of Protestant churches and bishops of the Anglican Communion tend to wear purple as well.
Purple is also a significant color in global cultures. For example, purple symbolizes mourning in Thailand and Brazil, while it is seen as the color of the supernatural in the West.
Purple is also embraced in LGBTQ+ movements. This is because purple is associated with bisexuality, owing to the combination of pink (representing homosexuality) and blue (representing heterosexuality) in the bisexual pride flag. Spirit Day, an LGBTQ+ awareness event, also uses purple as its main symbol.
The Psychological Impact of Purple
Color psychology dictates that every color impacts a person’s emotions differently. Orange is seen as bright, pink as sweet, green as organic, etc.
The meaning of the color purple goes beyond aesthetics—this hue is often linked to luxury, elegance, and sophistication. When we see the color, our brain automatically associates it with luxury, elegance, or sophistication. Luxurious brands like Cadbury, Hallmark, and Asprey use purple logos specifically because of this connection.
However, purple is interesting as people can react differently depending on the shade of purple they see.
This is because purple is created by combining blue and red. The dominant color in the combination can affect how we view the specific shade of purple.
For instance, lilac is seen as calming due to its blue undertones, while magenta is seen as bold due to its richer red undertones.
This unconventional mix of fiery red and serene blue to create purple is also why it’s seen as the color of imagination, creativity, and uniqueness.
Purple’s effect on creativity is also backed by science. Studies have shown that purple can stimulate the creative parts of our brains. Yahoo! Japan has redesigned its workspaces to feature purple predominantly, and sixty-five percent of its employees have reported an increase in their creative and problem-solving skills.
Purple is also not a color on the visible spectrum and does not have its wavelength of light. Again, it’s only created to the mix of red and blue wavelengths. This makes purple a so-called “impossible color,” which is why it feels more unique and appealing to our eyes. It’s also why we associate purple with mysticism, magic, and the supernatural.
How To Use Purple in Branding and Design
Purple’s versatility and eye-catching look make it a great choice for any field.
Luxury brands can use a deep shade of purple and pair it with black, blue, gold, or silver for a sophisticated color palette. Some examples of this are Purdy’s Chocolatier, Thai Airways, and Crown Royal.
Want to make your business stand out? Try using a brighter shade of purple, like orchid or electric purple, or pairing it with brighter yellows and oranges to signify creativity and innovation. You can see this in brands like Yahoo! and Twitch, with their purple logos that convey individuality.
Purple also works well in relaxation spaces, as neuroscience studies have found that purple has soothing and anti-inflammatory properties in our brains. If you have a spa, self-care brand, yoga studio, or meditation app, use lavenders and periwinkles paired with soft pinks and light creams in your logo or interior design.
Purple is also an excellent choice for web design or graphic design. If you want a mystical aesthetic, you can go for dark plum or amethyst. You can also use a brighter purple for your CTA buttons if you are looking for an eye-catching color that is not too intense on the eyes.
Purple is also a great accent color to use on your website, as it serves as a captivating pop of color in a sea of whites or blacks.
As purple also has many beautiful and eye-catching shades, you can try using a purple monochromatic color palette. A palette of soft purples can create a soothing vibe, while a darker color palette can up the mysterious appeal of your brand.
Studies also found that purple is women’s second favorite color. If your target audience skews toward women, using a purple logo might be a good idea.
Purple Logo Examples
Interested in using purple? Let’s take a look at some purple logos that you can use as inspiration.
Famous Purple Logos
Here are some examples of famous brands using purple. There’s no better place to get inspiration, right?
Urban Decay
FedEx
Premier League
Wimbledon
Thai Airways
Purple Logo Design Concepts
Now, let’s take a look at other purple logos to jog your creative mind. Here, you can view some light purple logos, dark mystic ones, and logos that lean toward reddish purple for a bolder look.
Minimalist Purple Insect BY Design
Gradient Purple Ampersand BY Design
Purple Twister Cyclone by brandcrowd
Purple Startup Compass by brandcrowd
Purple Spiral Anaglyph by brandcrowd
Purple Beauty Shell by brandcrowd
Purple Gem Jewelry by brandcrowd
Create a Purple Logo Today
There you have it! Did you enjoy our deep dive into the color purple today?
Purple is an interesting color as it has a unique blend of warmth and coolness. But aside from its aesthetic appeal, purple carries a lot of psychological, cultural, and historical value that makes it a significant color to use in branding or design.
If our article above has inspired you, feel free to head on to our AI logo generator or check out our other color logo templates like mauve logos or blue logos.
You can also check out our marketing templates, such as poster maker or Facebook cover maker, to create your purple-inspired design.
See you in our next color series!
