Write in color to stimulate creativity
Researchers and educators alike have long sought to determine the impact writing in different colors can have on an individual. Whether it's with markers, pens, pencils or even crayons, there is a widespread belief that utilizing different colors when writing can help in both productivity and creativity.
In the advertising world, there has been an ongoing debate on whether it's better to use red or blue to captivate an audience. In reality, it's not really a question of which is better overall, but which is better for a particular task. According to ScienceMag.org, the color blue can help stimulate creativity while red influences individuals to pay closer attention to detail.
Outside of marketing, using different colors in your work can be helpful in promoting organization and creativity. If you're putting together a calendar on a large whiteboard, for example, writing different tasks for different people can be made much easier by using various colored markers. Using bright colors to signify deadlines and due dates can help serve as bold reminders to get things done when you're supposed to.
Using different colors can help in organization and creativity.
Try using these three colors when you work:
Black
Black remains the standard in writing. Whether it's typography or the written word, black is the color most commonly associated with professional documents in the work place. The plain shade will help reinforce the strict, professional culture that is most commonly associated with an office environment. When communicating with clients or people outside the office, writing in black is your safest option. Even if you are working with a creative circle within your work group, it's a good idea to convey important ideas in black. People are more likely to take what's written in plain colors much more seriously than, say, an announcement written in hot pink.
Red
"Stop signs and police sirens are red for a reason."
Pause for a moment to think about things you commonly associate with the color red. Stop signs, police sirens and a teacher's edits on a paper may be the first things that come to mind. It's no coincidence that all three of these things use red as a featured color - It's because they all want to capture your attention. Stop signs and police cars are obvious examples, because if people didn't pay attention, the roads would be much more dangerous. But even something as simple as edits on a term paper can benefit from the use of bright red. By marking up your paper in red pen, a teacher can more effectively draw your attention to areas that need to be revised.
Blue
If you want to add a little color without losing the professional tone of whatever you are writing, blue is a safe choice. That being said, many consider blue to be a color that is more calming and soothing than most. Having the ability to get your mind in a calm state can free it for another, more creative line of thinking. The color green is thought to have similar effects.
So, take advantage of the wide array of colors at your disposal. Despite the fact that coloring may be an activity you consider reserved for children, it can be helpful as an adult, too. Utilizing different colors can provide organization in a board room and creativity in a meeting with virtually no extra work. That being said, don't overdo it. Stick to black colored fonts and handwriting when it comes to things that simply cannot go unnoticed or ignored.