Meeting Planning Innovation

First, a few disclaimers:

• I'm not a psychologist - just insanely fascinated by human behavior triggers.
• I'm working on revamping my website and now feverishly researching color advice on the web. What you're about to read are highlights from this quest. Take it with a grain of salt and then, think about how best to apply color at YOUR events.

RED: Energy and intensity. Strength, sex, passion and even danger. A spot of red draws the eye to important things. Studies show that red stimulates appetites (perfect for food websites). If you're looking to control F&B costs, you might dial down the red at conference luncheons or dinners. Note to self: Remove all red from my kitchen.

BLUE: Dependability, trust, and wisdom. If you're working with a membership organization, blue also conveys a sense of belonging. Some say people are more productive in blue rooms. In fact, some gyms are going blue because they believe it amps up weight lifting, too. Lighter shades have a more calming and restful effect. Blue is also THE #1 favorite color choice.

WHITE: Innocence and purity. While associated with marriage in Western cultures, it symbolizes death in some Eastern cultures. White is also effective in conveying spaciousness, cleanliness and even neutrality. White can inspire creativity, hence white boards. Give your attendees a great big white canvas and just watch what streams of colors (& ideas) they bring in.

BLACK: Authority and power. Great examples of this at work in conferences: TED Talks and just about any Steven Jobs/Apple new product announcement. A black backdrop definitely commands attention and respect, but it won't rescue a mediocre speaker.

YELLOW: Yellow typically evokes feelings of cheerfulness, optimism (sunshine), laughter and happiness. But if you intensify the shade, tempers could flair up. In fact, some studies show babies cry more in bright yellow rooms. But then again, how many babies are registering for your conference?

GREEN: Nature, sustainability and growth. Peace and harmony. Green is also the color of money, so it's probably a good choice for sales meetings. Light green is thought to have a more calming effect.

PURPLE: Royalty, prosperity and sophistication all come to the forefront, especially for deeper shades of purple. Spirituality and dignity, too. Purple is also a favorite color for adolescent girls.

ORANGE: Fun, energetic, vibrant and even a bit flamboyant when taken to extremes. Moving to muted shades, it also communicates warmth. Orange is sometimes associated with ambition and new attitudes, too.

BROWN: Earth, nature, stability and hearth & home. There's even a sense of primitive and tribal in there, too.

GOLD & SILVER: Prestige and elegance, but don't go overboard or you'll start looking like a wannabe pretender.

MARS & VENUS: Women tend to prefer warm colors, while men prefer cooler shades.