Alexandrite – The Power of Color Mixing
The captivating Alexandrite, a rare form of Chrysoberyl, is one of the most fascinating birthstones thanks to its remarkable color-changing properties. Depending on the lighting, Alexandrite shifts from Red in incandescent light to Green or Blue-Green in daylight, with occasional flashes of Magenta, Violet, or even Deep Blue. This natural iridescence makes it a perfect symbol for the dynamic power of color mixing in branding.
Color psychology typically focuses on the emotional impact of single colors. But blending colors can add depth, amplify meaning, and create multi-layered emotional responses that a single color alone may not achieve. We see these complex color combinations everywhere — in logos, branding, and visual identity systems that challenge simple conventions.
One such combination is Red and Green, often debated in marketing circles. While the old saying goes, “Red and Green shouldn’t be seen,” plenty of successful brands prove otherwise.
Mountain Dew Does It
With its dark Forest Greens accented by vibrant Reds, Mountain Dew’s logo creates immediate visual tension and energy. While Green often suggests nature, health, and luck, Mountain Dew leans more toward prosperity and risk-taking. The pop of Red — especially highlighting the word “Dew” — adds urgency, action, and high-octane energy. Whether you’re a late-night coder, an extreme sports enthusiast, or simply reaching for a burst of caffeine, the color mixing resonates with Mountain Dew’s youthful, adrenaline-fueled audience.
Welcome to Chili’s
Chili’s offers another example. Their logo emphasizes bold Red with Green as an accent, cleverly styled as a chili pepper. Red signals hunger, passion, and action — perfect for a restaurant enticing customers to sit down and indulge. Green, in this context, acts as a playful accent, adding freshness and a nod to the food itself. Red also taps into emotions of love and shared experiences, while Chili’s ever-evolving menu keeps things feeling just adventurous enough for returning customers.
Lucky 7s
Let's take a look at 7 Eleven and 7 Up! Note that 7 Eleven is very prominently Green with Red as an accent, while also being placed front and center within the logo. Red, being that color for energy and action, elicits those reactions for the major presence of green, which represents optimism, prosperity and balance, creating a sense of comfort and familiarity.
7 Up used to use the slogan “crisp and clean and no caffeine,” almost the antithesis of Mountain Dew. So how can it work for an opposite kind of brand? The presence of white and the minimalistic use of the colors has worked for them for decades and the aforementioned slogan is a perfect counterpart for these colors. “Crisp and clean” sure presents the feeling of a more healthy beverage, accentuating the nature, well-being and balance aspect of the Green, where Red comes in like an exclamation point as a call to action color.
In conclusion, these brands have used these colors in different ways and to different effect. One thing they all share, though, is another response to the color Green… loyalty. For our purposes here, brand loyalty. How do you utilize color mixtures in your web marketing and branding? What colors do you mix and why?