Color in Design

At the beginning of every season we are told what is color is "hot" and can be worn in any number of contexts. It is up to us, the designers to let the world know what is cool. As designers we need to take into careful consideration our color choices. Color is one of the most distinguishing characteristics that an item can have. Many times the decision of what to buy can come down to the choice of color. People would generally pay more for the same item to have it in their favorite color.  The way people perceive and identify with color is a major factor when choosing colors to use for a design. Toothbrushes for example, are always found in bright "fresh" colors like blue and green. Never do we see a brown or mustard colored toothbrush. This is most likely because the designers want people to associate their product with clean, fresh mouths. Just looking at the bright white and blue toothbrush can make you feel like it's really going to work.  Lawnmowers all tend to be red for some reason.The color choice in this case is not as obvious. Looking at a red lawnmower doesn't give you the feeling that it can really cut grass well however, any other colored mower looks odd. This color selection might have more to do with a tradition that has now become the status quo. This is another factor a designer must take into account. While it might seem like a fun and fresh idea to design a funky yellow lawnmower, it might not be accepted by the market.