Purple in logo design: Is purple a good color for a logo?

If you’re considering using purple in logo design, it’s crucial to understand how your audience might perceive this unique color. Often seen as a somewhat controversial shade, purple is loved by some and hated by others. 

The hue has taken on many different connotations throughout the world, from mystery and spirituality to luxury and wealth. 

Less common in the branding world than many other shades, purple can be a good way for a brand to differentiate itself from the competition. Opting for purple over a hue like blue or red could be a good way for a business to showcase its unique personality. 

Purple can also be a fantastic way to demonstrate power, individuality, and luxury. It’s a shade frequently connected to royalty and indulgence, making it an excellent choice for brands in the fashion, beauty, and even food landscapes. 

Here’s what you need to know about the meanings behind purple company logos and how you can use this shade in your designs.

What does purple mean in a logo?

Purple is a relatively versatile shade in the branding world.

Although the color is most commonly associated with royalty and luxury, it also has different symbolism depending on the shade. Darker purples can convey spirituality and magic, while lighter shades can often be connected to concepts like compassion and community.

According to color psychology, purple is a rich and creative color. Its long-standing links with the rich and powerful have made it a common choice among brands looking to demonstrate individuality and independence.

It’s also frequently linked to the female gender and has appeared in the branding of various movements for female independence and equality.

Depending on how companies choose to use purple in logo design, it could have the following meanings:

Wisdom

Purple is frequently connected to knowledge, thanks to its connection with the upper class and aristocracy throughout the decades. Deep shades of purple can also be connected to creativity and discovery, which may be why we often see this color in educational logos.

Spirituality

The fact that purple rarely appears in nature has helped to identify the shade as a somewhat unusual, mysterious, and even magical color. Many religions see purple as a spiritual shade representing rebirth and rejuvenation.

It may also be linked to the spirit world, magic, and science fiction.

Courage

The bold and independent nature of purple as a color has also given it strong links to the concept of bravery. This is particularly true in the United States, where the “Purple Heart” is one of the most prestigious awards available to people in the military service.

In this landscape, the color purple is a symbol of excellence and prestige.

Creativity

Because purple rarely appears in nature, it’s primarily considered a somewhat exotic and unusual color linked with independence and creativity. Even specific terms like “purple prose” use the word purple to refer to concepts like imagination.

Purple can be a way for companies to distinguish themselves in the branding world.

Femininity

Generally, women are more likely to prefer the color purple than men. This has led to a strong bond between the shade and the female sex. Various groups have also used the color purple to focus on female liberation and suffrage over the years. 

Some shades of purple are associated with traditionally female traits, like compassion.

Luxury

Perhaps the most common way to use purple in logo design is as a symbol of luxury.

Many purple logos build on the history of purple as a color for the wealthy and royalty, demonstrating their prestige and excellence. The shade is often considered to be highly exclusive and extravagant.

However, it can sometimes be seen as arrogant in some instances.

Purple company logos: The versatility of purple

As you can see, purple in logos can convey various meanings depending on the situation, the context, and the shade. The unique nature of the color has made it a relatively popular choice among those in the creative industry. However, purple can appear in virtually all industries.

Fashion companies use purple to symbolize extravagance, while educational groups use purple to demonstrate knowledge and wisdom. In the tech landscape, purple is a common choice for conveying ideas of communication, affinity, and discovery.

Let’s take a look at some purple company logos for inspiration.

FedEx

FedEx is well-known throughout the world for its orange and purple logo. These two shades are used together to convey out-of-the-box thinking, creativity, and individuality.

The shades simultaneously highlight the innovative nature of the company, as well as its commitment to delivering high-quality experiences to customers.

Urban Decay

One of the better-known brands in the cosmetics space, Urban Decay uses a deep color of purple in its logo to showcase its individuality and “alternative” focus. The deep shade gives the cosmetics brand an edgy, dramatic vibe.

For Urban Decay, purple is a way to appeal to a predominantly female audience while avoiding softer, more simplistic tones.

Hallmark

For Hallmark, the purple logo design is a chance to showcase several different concepts at once. First, the purple shades demonstrate luxury and excellence. However, they’re also an excellent way to highlight the compassionate focus of the company.

The purple coloring in Hallmark’s branding helps it to stand out as a creative and community-focused brand.

Syfy

Popular television network SyFy also takes advantage of the versatile nature of purple in logo design.

The dark shade of purple used by the company is intended to convey mystery and the spiritual world. This is an excellent choice for a company committed to showcasing content about the fantasy world, science fiction, and even horror.

Discord

As mentioned above, purple can be an excellent shade to convey community, affinity, and collaboration. It’s a compassionate color often connected with heart-felt emotions like friendship.

Discord uses a light shade of purple in a brighter tone to make its branding seem youthful, friendly, and approachable to people from all backgrounds.

NYU

New York University also has a fantastic purple logo. The color in this symbol is intended to reference creativity, discovery, wisdom, and knowledge.

At the same time, the color’s bright and vivid nature helps the company appeal to the young audience of ambitious students it wants to reach. In this case, purple helps to differentiate the educator from other institutions.

How to use purple in logo design

If you believe purple company logos might be the best option for your business, the best thing you can do is work with a professional designer to ensure you’re choosing the right assets for your brand. Working with a professional will make sorting through potential logo options easier.

However, it’s also worth researching before you start designing. Make sure you take the following steps in your design process:

Research your audience

Some people are naturally more drawn to purple than others. Often, this shade appeals more to females than males, and it may be considered more appropriate for specific industries. Make sure you know who you’re trying to reach.

Experiment with shades

Different shades of purple convey different meanings. The darker the tone, the more likely your logo will be associated with luxury or mystery. On the other hand, lighter tones are connected to compassion and community. 

Choose the right accompanying colors

Choose the right accompanying hues if you plan on having more than one shade in your logo. Gold and yellow are great for building a luxury image for a company. Greens and whites are fantastic for connecting your company to ideas of comfort and nature.

Should you use purple in logo design?

So, should you use purple in logo design? 

Choosing the right colors for a logo design can be a complex process. The shades you select, combined with your choice of fonts, shapes, and other elements will determine how consumers view your brand and what they feel when interacting with you. 

Purple is often a common choice for logo design when brands want to convey luxury and elegance, but it can also be a powerful tool for showcasing a range of other values and ideas. 

The key to determining whether using purple in logo design is a good idea for you is ensuring you understand this color’s pros and cons. 

On the one hand, purple can be associated with several positive ideas like creativity, intuition, compassion, and mystery. It’s a luxurious and sophisticated color that sets brands apart from other low-priced alternatives. 

At the same time, certain shades of purple can also be associated with arrogance, frustration, and immaturity.

Fabrik: A branding agency for our times.

Now read these:
—What does purple mean in marketing? 
—Should you use purple in packaging design? 
—Understanding the psychology of purple 
—What does purple signify in branding? 
—Why is purple associated with royalty? 
—A guide to colors that complement purple 
—Definitive guide to the shades of purple 
—Popular companies with purple logos
—Your guide to which colors make purple
—Exploring the colors of the rainbow