Color is present in our lives every day. Some say it helps us remember objects and can influence our emotions, shape our perceptions, our actions, and even our decisions. With this in mind, I invite you to pause and reflect: How much does color affect each of us? Are its meanings biological or cultural? What would happen if it didn’t exist?

Colors seem to be much more than a physical property of light. The estimated visible spectrum for humans is close to one million colors, and according to some studies, it could be even larger. National Geographic states that women can detect a greater number of colors than men.

Next, we will explore the importance of color in shaping our perception throughout history and at different moments in our lives.

In everyday life, in our homes and workplaces, Ilse Crawford, designer featured in Abstract (Netflix), states that “design is a tool to elevate our humanity,” where color can change how we feel and, in turn, influence how we behave. Color psychology argues that color is not static—it interacts with us in unexpected ways. Studies have shown that yellow can boost creativity — making it the favorite of startups and brainstorming centers — while blue tones reduce stress and improve concentration — perfect for coworking spaces or quiet zones. Then there’s green, which evokes balance and renewal, creating a sense of well-being in break rooms or common areas. With the proper use of color, it has been proven that workplaces applying these principles increased their productivity by 20%. Estanislao Bachrach — a molecular biologist specializing in neuroscience — affirms that “if you feel good, you’ll have more energy to do things, and they will turn out better.”

Color serves multiple purposes in society and, from a communication standpoint, in daily life it helps us identify and differentiate objects, and efficiently convey important messages (traffic lights and road signs, for example). Color travels through our brains so quickly that in the United States, school buses are required by law to be yellow—because even in darkness or in the worst weather conditions, this color is the safest for detecting objects. Yellow is one of the most visible colors to the human eye, being detected 1.24 times faster than red. In prisons and mental health institutions, colors are also used strategically, applying color psychology to influence the physical and emotional well-being of inmates but also the practicality of the staff. In some prisons in the United States and Europe, cells are painted Baker-Miller pink to reduce aggression and influence mood, emotions, heart rate, and even the physical strength of prisoners. For safety reasons in these institutions, inmate clothing is organized by color depending on the level of danger they represent. Neuroscientist Natalia Filvarova, in her TED talk, reminds us that nature has always used color to communicate — to camouflage and to attract mates — so if colors reinforce what we feel is happening around us, our brains become more efficient in making decisions. Roland Barthes would agree: he studied color and noted in his essays that its interpretation operates within a system of codes that communicate and shape the audience’s cultural and emotional responses.

In fashion, color reflects personality and mood. Lilly Pulitzer stated that “color affects people’s moods,” and Coco Chanel made several remarks about color as well. Among them, she emphasized the importance of black and expressed her admiration for white and red. She also declared that “the best color in the world is the one that looks good on you,” reinforcing the idea that different colors can enhance each person’s sense of well-being.

In fine arts and graphic art, color is a medium of emotional and symbolic expression often compared to a universal language. Many visual artists have spoken about color. Wassily Kandinsky, for example, said that “color is a power which directly influences the soul,” and Georges Braque noted that “color can induce a feeling that may interfere with our conception of space”. Mark Rothko reinforces the idea that color is another way to express who we are and how we feel: “…I’m only interested in expressing basic human emotions.” And Piet Mondrian asserted that “the more basic the color, the more inward, the more pure”.

What’s fascinating is when artists from disciplines adjacent to the visual arts — renowned musicians, writers, and playwrights — also speak about the effects of color. Maya Angelou urged us to “try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud,” and Oscar Wilde responded with, “mere color… can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways”.  Among musical artists, Frank Sinatra conducted an album in collaboration with eight composers titled Sinatra Conducts Tone Poems of Color, and made it clear that “orange is the happiest color,” while The Beatles sang about the “Yellow Submarine” and invited us to “listen to the color of your dreams”.  The theme of color remains alive among contemporary musicians: Coldplay released “Yellow”, Taylor Swift the album “Red”, and Frank Ocean “Pink + White” and “Channel Orange”.

How could color not be important if the Pantone Institute selects one every year to reflect the world’s mood at that moment? In 2025, the Color of the Year is Mocha Mousse, a warm brown shade that evokes the delicious richness and comfort of cocoa, chocolate, and coffee — a hue that meets cultural needs, captures the spirit of the times, and reflects a collective desire for well-being and everyday pleasures. This color, sophisticated and lush — yet at the same time classic and humble — connects us to the earth while still allowing for a touch of indulgence and luxury.

The German philosopher, poet, novelist, and playwright Goethe (1749–1832) was the first to speak about color psychology, describing the indescribable: the sensations that colors evoke in us. Although his ideas were dismissed by the scientific community at the time, they remained a subject of great interest for philosophers, artists, and physicists. From his perspective, many of our decisions are not made rationally, but emotionally — and the colors we wear and surround ourselves with directly influence the way we move through the world on an emotional level. From his perspective, many of our decisions are not made rationally, but emotionally — and the colors we wear and surround ourselves with directly influence the way we move through the world on an emotional level.

Analyzing current cultural aspects, we can see that the symbolic meaning of colors varies among different peoples, and there doesn’t seem to be a universal meaning for each hue. Across the world, the same colors can evoke very different associations depending on Western, Eastern, African, Indigenous traditions, and on different religious contexts.

What matters most? Being aware that, to a greater or lesser extent, the colors around us affect us. At VEO, we encourage you to choose — whenever possible — the palettes that best accompany each stage of your life.