Branding & Design

Aug 01 2019

The Color Red

The color red is a very intense color that can evoke a wide range of emotions. From passion to anger, red really encompasses quite a lot of feelings.

Psychology of The Color Red

Red is the color most closely associated with energy, passion, and action. It is a warm color that represents power and courage. It is also assertive, daring, determined, powerful, enthusiastic and aggressive.

On the negative side red can represent rage, danger and stress. Being surrounded by too much red can make you irritable, agitated and even angry.

Red has been my favorite color for as long as I can remember. However, I prefer to work it in as an accent around my house rather than as the focal color. Or even as accessories like my purse or wallet.

The Color Red in Design

Because of the intensity of the color I cautiously use it in branding. Much like in interior design, I think red makes a good accent in branding. Bringing in the passion of red without it’s intensity. One example of this is the updated logo and web design for Barron Custom Design.

Finding Red Inspiration

Visit KateOGroup on Pinterest and see our board titled Reds. This board is full of inspiration. Nothing but shades of red. All of the images in the first image are on the Reds Pinterest Board.

Over the next month we will be highlighting designs by KateOGroup, both branding and website, that incorporate the red. Be sure to follow us on Instagram.

How do you feel about red?

Jul 01 2019

The Color Navy

The color navy is one of my favorite colors. I often prefer to use it instead of black because it is a good neutral color that pairs well with other colors.

Psychology of The Color Navy

Blue represents both the sea and the sky, with an association to wide open spaces. Think freedom, imagination, expansiveness, inspiration, intuition, and sensitivity. It represents loyalty, sincerity, wisdom, confidence, stability, faith, and intelligence. It is one of the most widely used shades of blue around the world.

Navy adds an element of sophistication that other shades of blue do not have.

Colors play an important part in the branding process. It is important to take into consideration the colors you use in your logo and their meanings.

Blue is the number one choice for a favorite color. Because of it’s popularity you will often see it in logo designs. It creates a personal connection and helps the brand relate to the largest amount of people possible.

The Color Navy in Design

Navy is a timeless, gender-neutral color that fits in everywhere. It doesn’t call attention to itself through print and digital design.

As you can see below, in photos from our client Agave Custom Homes, navy is a popular color to use in interior design. Navy is often seen in both paint and textiles in interior design.

Both of the above images are by Mark Adams Media from a home by Agave Custom Homes.

Visit KateOGroup on Pinterest and see our board titled Blues. This board is full of inspiration. Nothing but shades of blue, including navy. All of the images in the first image are on the Blues Pinterest Board.

Over the next month we will be highlighting designs by KateOGroup, both branding and website, that incorporate the color navy. Be sure to follow us on Instagram.

Are you a fan of navy?

Jun 04 2019

The Color Green

I have always loved the color green but rarely incorporate it into my everyday life. Each year when St. Patrick’s Day roles around I remember just how little green I own.

In brand design, it is important to consider the meaning of the colors you use in your logo and branding elements. Green represents nature, growth, money, fertility and safety. Often companies in the health care industry incorporate green into their logos because it is a relaxing color.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to selecting which shades of green you will use. From yellow-green to dark green the meaning of the color can vary.

Because green is made up of a combination of blue and yellow it embodies characteristics of each. From the color yellow, green draws mental clarity and optimism while from blue, green receives emotional tranquility and insight.

Psychology of the Color Green

Green is an emotionally positive color. Evoking a sense of restfulness, healing, stability and endurance. Green causes observers to feel a sense of balance and stability.

Green in Design

Because of the calming effect green can have you will find varying shades of green incorporated throughout design. In graphic design, often in logos and marketing items for the healthcare industry. In interior design, various textiles and accent items in green are a frequent staple.

KateOGroup utilizes green in branding design and web design often. Here are a few examples:

The logo and collateral for Lindsey Edison Branding includes a few shades of green.

The website for Mosquito Steve also includes a few shades of green throughout the design.

Visit KateOGroup on Pinterest and see our board titled Greens. This board is full of inspiration that is nothing but Green. All of the images in the first image are on the Greens Pinterest Board.

Are you a fan of green?

Jan 04 2017

How Pinterest Can Be Pinteresting

Confession, I lost my love of Pinterest as I was building my business. I use to spend hours perusing Pinterest looking for DIY ideas for around the house and recipes to try but then I got busy with KateOGroup and stopped spending time exploring. I had a hard time figuring out how to best utilize it for my business. As a branding and website design studio I was really missing out on a gold mine of inspiration.

That was until I spent some time reorganizing my Pinterest boards. All of a sudden my old obsession with Pinterest was renewed. I created color boards. Now I can more quickly pull together Moodboards and Inspiration for branding projects.

I was just going to show you a couple of boards but I just can’t get enough of these color boards, so here are a few more!

And one last board because I just couldn’t resist and it’s so pinteresting, Metallics!

I have even more color boards on my account but you’ll have to go check them out yourself! And be sure to follow along as I continue to build up these boards: KateOGroupLLC.

Now that I have these boards I find Pinterest absolutely pinteresting and have to make myself stop adding to all of these boards. I definitely cannot take credit for this organization strategy because I’m not the first one to do this. How do you utilize Pinterest for your business?

Sep 19 2016

Moodboard Monday: Dreamy Sophistication

Moodboards play such an important when I begin a design project. Whether it’s a logo or a website, this is where I like to start. The Moodboards I’m sharing today have dreamy sophistication.

I love this Nantucket inspired color pallet. These weathered wood textures add so much character.

This moodboard was so much fun to create. It was designed for a project for a new business in the flooring industry. All of the patterns and textures…I just love the endless possibilities they represent. As different as the moodboard below is from the one above, to me it also represents dreamy sophistication.

Every time I start a new moodboard, the first place I go is to Pinterest. I start gathering images and bringing them into Illustrator. As I put them side by side I can see if they really create the story I’m trying to create for my customer. Do they evoke the look and feel the brand represents? I typically have a color pallet in mind when I start a project but it evolves as the moodboard comes together.