The Science of Color Behind Promotional Marketing Excellence

June 23, 2023

Use Color Choices to Make Your Brand Stand Out

When you want to create branded t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, backpacks, and more that can help show off your company and your message, you’ve got a lot of choices to make.

Hoodie or a polo, backpack or cooler bag, hat or t-shirt, embroidered or screen print? Those are just a few of the options, and they really are unlimited. (For more ideas, check out this helpful article)

But now you need to pick a color. The options are almost limitless and can be overwhelming. They can make or break your campaign. You need to know:

• Will your logo show up on that hat?
• What colors should the t-shirt or polo be to match your brand?
• Is your logo too complex for embroidery?
• If you have a message, what font do you use, and what color should it be. Never fear, Bullseye is here, with what you need to know to choose colors to rock your next promotional apparel and branded sportswear campaign

Create a Brand Manual

If you don’t have a “Brand Style Guide” or “Brand Manual” already set up, that can help. A “Brand Manual” sets the rules for representing your brand.

A brand manual includes specifications on the size, color, and placement of your logo, color palette, Font selection, and more to help ensure consistency and coherence in your company’s brand identity.

Choose Colors for Impact

Yellow conveys happiness and optimism. Gold and deep purple can be luxurious. Blue can promote calm and trust. But be careful. Sometimes it's not that easy. For instance, red can sometimes mean “stop”, or “love”. Those are fairly different moods!

Contrast your Logo and Messaging

Your logo must stand out. Black and white are obvious options. But Blue and Yellow can help your logo stand out, too. Be careful with a red shirt if you have a complex logo, but feel free to go red if you use a black or white version of your logo.

Be Mindful of your Brand

If you embroider your logo on a camouflaged hat or bag, you’re saying something about your brand. If you use pink, use it on purpose because it will be remembered. And make sure that any message you choose says something you want to be remembered for.