One of the first green symbols we learn as children is that ‘Green Means Go’. Traffic lights are a cross-cultural symbol that are learned at a very young age. Imagine the chaos if traffic lights were different colours in different countries.
Not forgetting the green man for pedestrians.
A mark of positivity
Green is (mostly) used for positive messaging. Green is the colour of new growth in the spring. It is lush and healthy. Let’s have some fun exploring our beloved green.
Green is the start button paired with its opposite red for stop.
Green is safety. It’s the Emergency exit sign and the muster station.
Green is availability. It’s the vacant sign on a toilet door and red tells you otherwise.
Green is how we look after ourselves, it’s the colour of First Aid.
It’s how we advocate health with the phrase ‘eat your greens’. If we have ‘green fingers’, we are good at growing plants.
Green means be kind to nature and the environment. We recycle with green. The green bin is here to stay.
You’d think ‘Green Means Go’ would be confirmed on the Monopoly board, but no (I had to check; I assumed it was green). It just shows that we can break the rules and get away with it (sometimes).
Green is a colour of Christmas. Holly, ivy, and Christmas trees.
Green is a taste. Green sweets are apple or lime-flavoured. On packaging, it often represents mint (although the product itself is often white).
But what about crisp flavours? Green is in debate here. Should ‘Salt & Vinegar’ crisps be Green or Blue? (The former in my opinion)
It’s not always a good sign
However, green is not always a good news story and a couple of negative connotations came to mind.
Green can be toxic.
We can be green with envy.
Green emojis represent sickness.
However, a warning sign in green doesn’t have the impact it would in red. It’s just too nice and polite.
Brands that use green
In branding, green means goodness, security, fairness, and eco friendly. So let’s end with a few famous green brands to wrap up.
Landrover will surely always be green; durable, ready for adventure and in touch with nature.
Starbucks could never be red.
Oxfam is green through and through; advocating for a fairer, kinder world.
Let’s celebrate the goodness of the colour green and how essential it has become to telling our stories.
When words are not enough, colour is a gift to communication.
AUTHOR: Nikki Shield
Nikki has over 20 years experience of working with businesses creating logos, graphics and design collateral. She understands the importance of building a picture in an authentic way that aids communication.
