Color meanings can be lost and found in translation

We often consider only the connotations of colors in our own culture; however, colors carry various different – often strong – connotations in other cultures. What may be neutral in one country could carry sharp political connotations in another. What may be seen as positive in one culture may be negative in a neighboring country. For this reason, businesses will see greater success in international marketing when they research important color meanings and use those colors appropriately to reach their target markets.

Orange, the brand name of France Telecom's mobile and Internet subsidiaries, ran an amazingly successful ad campaign in the 1990s using the slogan “The Future’s Bright – the Future’s Orange.” However, the company reportedly had to alter its slogan for politically divided Northern Ireland, where people strongly associate the color orange with the Orange Order. Without a modification to the campaign, the unintended implication might have been “the Future’s Protestant Loyalist,” an assertion that would have unintentionally irked the Catholic half of the population. As interreligious violence continued, the mobile operator even considered changing its brand name entirely in the region.

Other global companies that lack the foresight of Orange have committed rather colorful blunders. In the 1950s, Pepsi reportedly lost its dominant share of the beverage market in at least one southeast Asian country after changing its vending machines and coolers from a deep regal blue to light ice blue. Light blue is associated with death in that region, and Pepsi’s subsequent loss was competitor Coca-Cola’s gain.

Similarly, when EuroDisney used large amounts of purple in its initial sign designs, some European Catholic visitors purportedly perceived the signs as slightly morbid because of the color’s close associations with the death and crucifixion of Christ. Using a purple palette was the CEO’s preference and was intended to stand out like Coca-Cola’s red, but the theme park eventually changed it.

Color meanings may contradict each other across borders. Black may symbolize death in western culture, but white is the color of death in parts of Asia. White is the bridal color in western culture, but red is the bridal color in China. Red symbolizes joy in parts of Asia, but it signifies mourning in parts of Africa.

Realistically, not every color will evoke strong emotion. If I wear a green shirt to give a presentation in the U.S., most people will think nothing of it and, at worst, others may think I dress oddly. However, green in another context or culture may cause embarrassment or hinder packaged product sales.