Does Color Impact Cognition? – Yes!
And fairly dramatically according to a study, Blue or Red? Exploring the Effects of Color on Cognitive Task Performances, published on-line in Science Magazine and reported in the New York Times.
Older color studies offer the cognitive designer conflicting results. This study aims to resolve the conflict and demonstrate that:
1. Red produces an avoidance reaction and supports the cognition needed to do detail-oriented work.
2. Blue produces an approach reaction and supports the cognition needed to do creative tasks.
These effects work by sparking emotions/moods which in turn support specific ways of thinking.