Color preferences for different topics in connection to personal characteristics

Journal article (2015)

Authors

I.C. Bakker Applied Ergonomics and Design - IDE
Theo van der Voordt Real Estate Management - Architecture and the Built Environment
P. Vink Applied Ergonomics and Design - IDE
Research Group
Applied Ergonomics and Design (IDE) (TU Delft)
Copyright: © 2015 I.C. Bakker, Theo van der Voordt, P. Vink, J de Boon, C Bazley
DOI
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https://doi.org/10.1002/col.21845
Mood Personality Color preference Personal characteristics
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Published Date

2015

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Industrial Design Engineering

Department

Human-Centered Design

Research Group

Applied Ergonomics and Design

Abstract

Studies on color preferences are dependent on the topic and the relationships with personal characteristics, particularly personality, but these are seldom studied in one population. Therefore a questionnaire was collected from 1095 Dutch people asking for color preferences about different topics and relating them to personal characteristics.
Color preferences regarding different topics show different patterns and significant differences were found between gender, age, education and personality such as being technical, being emotional or being a team player. Also different colors were mentioned when asked for colors that stimulate to be quiet, energetic, able to focus or creative. Probably, due to unconsciousness of contexts, many people had no color preference, a result that in the literature seldom is mentioned.
Blue was the overall favourite color, however most males chose for blue (25 %) while most females had no color preference (18 %). Black was the overall favourite color for clothing, mainly chosen by females (40%), while males primarily chose blue (27%). For building interiors subjects preferred white.
For moods, subjects preferred white for being quiet or being able to focus, red for being energetic and had no color preference for being creative.
It is concluded that color preferences are dependent upon the topic, and personal characteristics. The findings are important for architects, interior designers, fashion designers and product designers to have a basic idea of preferred colors for different objects by different types of people.