Today is a colourful day – 21st March marks International Colour Day, an annual celebration that shines a spotlight on the important role colour plays in our lives, including art and design, science, psychology, to our everyday experiences. Founded by the International Colour Association (AIC) in 2009, the purpose of the day is to highlight the role colour plays in our emotions, culture, and human experience.
Colour captures our imagination, evokes emotions, inspires action and can drive behaviour change. When understood and used well, it is also a powerful tool for connection and engaging conversations. There’s no doubt about it, colour impacts our mood, can make us feel happy or sad, and it heavily influences decision making. From branding and marketing, to interior design and psychology – colour is a key driver of influence.
We live in the attention economy where everything is fighting for our attention. Are you being grey and hiding in plain sight like a battle ship on the ocean, or are you using colour to stand out and garner the attention you and your brand deserve?
Hidden in plain sight
From a business perspective, colour psychology is a powerful branding tool; it helps to communicate a brands identity, attract the right customer, build customer trust, and colour will help make a brand memorable and emotionally engaging for all the right reasons. With the wrong colours, the brand communication, cue and signal can send mixed messages. It is essential to know your brand personality, to understand your target audience, and to have knowledge of colours that are considered to reflect an industry or specific industry standard.
“Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected.” – William Plomer
Brand weaponry – the colourful kind
In celebration of International Colour Day 2025, I’d like to share some insights on the power of colour and the impact it has on our business, brand, and everyday lives. Let’s dive in…
Let’s change the rules
My love for colour—especially orange—has influenced many aspects of my life, from treasured gifts to personal purchases. From a brand perspective, FIAT’s bold decision to ban grey cars in favour of vibrant hues, as showcased in their Operation No Grey campaign, where a grey FIAT was dramatically dipped in orange paint, demonstrates and celebrates colour’s emotional power. In contrast, grey, the UK’s most popular car colour, is often associated with blending in, neutrality, and even emotional dullness. Historically linked to invisibility—whether in military uniforms or industrial aesthetics—grey has long dominated design, fashion, and interior design. However, perhaps the global shift towards embracing colour signals a collective desire for optimism and self-expression in the years ahead. As colour trends evolve, I hope this celebration of vibrant hues is here to stay.
“The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love colour the most.” – John Ruskin
Don’t want to hide in plain sight. Read on and let’s talk.
Colour is emotion
As someone who has been fascinated by colour for over 30 years, I’m always eager to deepen my understanding—both for myself and my clients. Neuroaesthetics, the study of how art and design influence the brain, is more than just creating beautiful spaces; it’s about shaping emotions, behaviours, and experiences. Her I talk about the profound role colour plays in our lives—from influencing mood and metabolism to driving brand connections. Whether in branding, business, or interior design, understanding colour’s impact helps create meaningful, measurable results.
Thank you to Modulyss for shedding light on the power of colour in design during their Modulyss Talks session on ‘The Impact of Neuroaesthetics’, in discussion with Karen Haller.
“Colours, like features, follow the changes of the emotion.” – Pablo Picasso
Read on to explore some key takeaways from this insightful discussion.
Art and Neuroaesthetics: The science of creativity
A few months ago, I discovered the Art2Life podcast, where artist Nicholas Wilton interviewed Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen about their book Your Brain on Art. Their discussion on neuroaesthetics—the science of how art impacts our brains, bodies, and behaviours—was truly fascinating. As sensory beings, we experience the world through sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell, and art has a profound ability to influence our emotions, thoughts, and connections. Creativity isn’t just an outlet; it rewires our brains, enhances well-being, and strengthens communities. From healing and mindfulness to problem-solving and innovation, the power of art extends far beyond aesthetics. This conversation reinforced how creativity can transform lives, workplaces, and even the way we engage with the world—something I explore in my own work.
“I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” – Georgia O’Keeffe
Let’s dive into the key takeaways and explore how art and creativity shape our experiences.
Brand and marketing
Growing a business comes with challenges—defining your brand, standing out in a crowded market, building lasting trust with your audience to name a few. Whether you’re struggling with inconsistent messaging, market differentiation, or outdated branding, I provide practical, actionable solutions that align your business with your audience and goals. Through a collaborative and strategic approach, we’ll refine your brand identity and unlock new opportunities for growth.
“Your brand is the single most important investment you can make in your business.” – Steve Jobs
Read on to discover how we can transform your brand’s potential.
The power of colour summit
Today marks the start of a three-day virtual event titled – The Power of Colour Summit – which invites people to explore the profound impact of colour on human consciousness, health, and well-being for a joyful life. It also showcases using colour in evolutionary ways to transform our health, relationships and the way we do business.
Speakers, thought leaders, innovators and experts include Tash Bradley, Director of Interior Design at Lick; Melissie Jolly, founder of Colour Mirrors; Reverend Dr. Bhante Saranapala, the Urban Buddhist Monk; Karen Haller, Applied Colour & Design Psychology Practitioner, Teacher and Mentor, and many more. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage directly with experts during interactive Q&A sessions.
At the summit you can expect to explore how understanding colour can transform your life and your business, it really does have a profound impact on every area of our lives.
To register for the event and find out more visit their website.
Let’s work together
With over 20 years of experience working with innovative and disruptive-tech businesses across a variety of sectors—from HR-tech and digital to creative agencies and interior design—I bring a blend of commercial acumen and creative thinking to everything I do. I’m a strategic yet hands-on leader with a passion for collaboration and an action-oriented mindset that delivers real results.
My approach is human to human, balancing the analytical left brain (facts, figures, and data) with the intuitive creativity of the right brain (emotion, imagination, and storytelling)—because I believe the magic happens when you combine these two key ingredients.
Let’s continue to use the power of colour to build environments that encourage positive change and build brands and businesses that are a force for good.
“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Wayne Dyer
Get in touch – I’d love to talk. Email me at emma@emmapotter.com.
Header image – Me snapped in the sunshine.
Brand Strategist | MarComms | Coach 