Colour Psychology: Why My Brand is Afraid of Chartreuse

Title: Why My Brand Has Chartreuse-ophobia: A Deep Dive Into Colour Psychology

In marketing, it's often the subtle nuances that make the biggest difference. This is why I want to have a heart-to-heart about a topic that's been hovering around like an annoying housefly - colour psychology. So, pull up a chair, light a campfire, and let's take a trip down the colourful lane of marketing lore. But beware, this path is painted with the ever-daunting hue of Chartreuse.

For the uninitiated, Chartreuse, like the elusive chanteuse, is a color that resides somewhere between a neon green and a sickly yellow. The kind of color you'd imagine a well-seasoned marketer, in a post-2 AM brainstorming session, might describe as 'inventive jaundice'.

But why all this hullabaloo about Chartreuse, you ask? Well dear reader, in the grand tapestry of marketing, each colour plays its part. The stalwart red evokes urgency, blue builds trust, and Chartreuse? Well, it's complicated.

The Colourful Past

We didn't just wake up one morning with colour psychology crashing onto our consciousness like a rogue wave. No, this theory has been threading its way through our industry tapestry for decades. I'm talking Mad Men era, when smoking was cool and polyester was king.

Remember the iconic "Think Small" Volkswagen campaign from the 1950s? The choice of black and white had a profound impact on the audience, creating a sense of nostalgia and trust. Meanwhile, Chartreuse was still sitting in the corner, nursing a whiskey, waiting for its big break.

The Neon Present

Fast forward to now. Chartreuse has made its grand entrance, but it's not exactly the belle of the ball. Sure, brands like Spotify have embraced it, illuminating our screens with that peculiar green-yellow hue. But it's a tough sell.

Why, you ask? Here's a few reasons:

• Emotionally Confusing: Is it cheery? Is it unsettling? Chartreuse is as emotionally confusing as trying to decipher your teenager’s mood swings.
• Unnatural: It's not a color we see often in nature. Unlike green or blue, chartreuse doesn't shout 'tranquility' or 'life'. It's more like a muffled whisper saying, 'I'm not really sure what I'm doing here'.
• Associations: I hate to say it, but Chartreuse has a bit of baggage. Its neon relative is often associated with caution signs, high visibility jackets, and radioactivity.

The Chartreuse Future

So, where do we go from here? Will Chartreuse ever escape its chartre-useless image? The answer, like the color itself, is not black and white.

As marketers, we must embrace the challenge. Chartreuse may be the enigma