Red orange is a vibrant and energizing color that combines the passion and excitement of red with the joy and warmth of orange. It sits between the two hues on the color spectrum, taking qualities from each to create a shade that is both bold and bright. Red orange first gained popularity in the 1950s and 60s, when it started being widely used in graphic design and visual arts. Today, it can be found adding visual interest and eye-catching appeal across many industries and applications.
In nature, red orange most commonly refers to the color of ripe citrus fruits, reddish-orange flowers and plants, spices like paprika and cayenne pepper, autumn leaves changing color, and exotic birds and fish. It is also seen in dramatic sunrises and sunsets when the sky is awash in fiery reddish-orange hues. The food industry makes wide use of red orange for branding of citrus juices, hot sauces, confections, and international cuisine. Fashion designers and interior decorators include the shade in patterns and accessories as an energizing accent color. It takes center stage across many visual arts and media, from logos and advertisements to paintings and website graphics.
Red orange brings to mind concepts like excitement, enthusiasm, determination, creativity, and confidence. It has an inherent energetic and youthful quality. This makes it an effective color for grabbing attention and making a bold impact in designs. It has a friendly vibe that also promotes sociability and approachability. Various shades of red orange can be associated with action, adventure and stimulation or joy, fun and warmth. Overall, red orange is a lively, outgoing color that energizes designs and adds a sense of adventure and thrill.
Things in Nature That are Red Orange
Many striking examples of red orange can be found occurring naturally in the plant and animal worlds. Here are some of the top things in nature that exhibit shades of red orange:
Citrus Fruits
Oranges, mandarins, grapefruits, blood oranges – all of these citrus fruits take on a red orange hue when ripe. The colorful pigments that develop in the fruits’ flesh and rind signal ripeness and sweet, tangy flavor. The red orange shades can range from bright reddish orange to a softer peachy orange.
Red Orange Flowers
Certain species of flowers naturally bloom in different shades of red orange. Examples include birds of paradise, poppies, coral honeysuckle, clivia, crabapple blooms, bottlebrush, lilies, and montbretia. These fiery blooms add a burst of color to gardens with their warm, reddish-orange petals.
Leaves in Autumn
As fall approaches, deciduous trees like maples, aspens, elm and oak undergo a chemical change that turns their green leaves into warm shades of yellow, orange and red orange. These fall foliage displays mark the change of seasons with vibrant hues.
Spices
Common spices derived from plants and peppers take on a signature red orange color. This includes paprika, cayenne pepper, annatto powder, turmeric, saffron threads, dia de los muertos marigolds and red chili powder. The orangey-red shades signal the spices’ robust flavor.
Red Peppercorns
Compared to black peppercorns, red peppercorns are unripe drupes that take on a bright red orange color. They have a more complex flavor than black pepper with hints of citrus and berry. The eye-catching red orange color distinguishes this specialty spice.
Carrots
Though most carrots are orange, there are heritage and wild varieties that exhibit a redder orange hue. Atomic red, red samurai and bloodred carrots have a crimson orange color resulting from higher levels of lycopene antioxidants.
Lava Rocks
Molten lava glows with a searing reddish-orange radiance as it flows from a volcanic eruption. Once the lava cools and hardens into rock, it retains a porous, reddish-orange color from iron oxide minerals.
Monarch Butterflies
The iconic monarch butterfly has wings patterned with veins of burnt orange hue mingled with a black background and white spots. The wings’ reddish-orange areas warn potential predators that the monarch’s body contains foul-tasting toxins.
Goldfish
Common goldfish selectively bred for their orange coloration display a range of red orange, yellow and white. Two-toned ryukin goldfish in particular exhibit a brilliant reddish-orange and white pattern.
Coral Reefs
Vibrant orange and red coral species like elkhorn, staghorn and sunset coral thrive in tropical reef environments. Their vivid colors come from symbiotic algae living in the coral polyps.
Lava Lizards
The Galapagos marine iguana and lava lizard get their common names from the burnt reddish-orange hue they take on, allowing them to blend in with volcanic lava landscapes.
Man-Made Objects That are Red Orange
Beyond the natural world, red orange is a popular choice for all kinds of human-made items and products. Here are some examples of things created by people that feature different shades of red orange:
Safety Vests and Cones
Standard safety vests and traffic cones are produced in attention-grabbing shades of orangey red to ensure high visibility. Their bright color helps keep workers, cyclists and pedestrians visible and safer.
Fiesta Ware
This line of dinnerware made by the Homer Laughlin China Company comes in various vivid retro colors, including a burnt orange red. The Fiesta collection has been popular since its introduction in the 1930s.
Retro Appliances
Some retro-style appliances are available in bright shades of red orange as an alternative to basic white and black. Things like stand mixers, refrigerators and toasters can exhibit fiery pops of color.
Boxing Gloves
It’s common to see boxing gloves produced in bright red hues, sometimes veering into reddish-orange territory. They make the equipment stand out clearly in the ring.
Traffic Signs and Symbols
Red-orange is often used for high visibility traffic symbols, text and hazardous warning signs. It helps the visual information stand out to drivers and pedestrians.
Hunting Gear
Safety orange is required for hunting apparel in many areas. It helps hunters see and identify each other in the wilderness and prevents hunting accidents.
Prisons Uniforms
Jail and prison inmates often wear brightly colored jumpsuits to make them clearly identifiable. Orange and red-orange variations are frequently used uniform colors.
Lipstick and Nail Polish
Within the cosmetics industry, red-orange is a popular bold shade for lipsticks and nail polishes. Reds with a strong orange undertone provide a fiery punch of color.
Crayons
The iconic Crayola crayons contain colors like macaroni & cheese, radish, contestant orange and outrageous orange – all classics with a red-orange look.
Saffron Spice Jars
Jars of saffron threads get their signature red-orange color from the delicate, hand-harvested orange stamens of the saffron crocus flower. They add flavor and color to foods.
Hot Sauce Bottles
Many hot sauce companies like Tabasco, Cholula and Huy Fong Foods use red orange bottles and labeling to telegraph the contents’ spicy flavor.
Symbolic Meanings of Red Orange
Beyond its natural occurrences and use in commercial products, red orange holds symbolic meaning in broader culture. Here are some of the key concepts and qualities associated with this color:
Energy
Red orange conveys energetic vibes and a lively spirit, suggesting vigor, vitality, and zest for life. It has an inherently active and stimulating quality.
Adventure
The color red orange brings to mind adventure, evoking exhilarating expeditions, new experiences and daring exploits. It suggests stepping outside one’s comfort zone.
Enthusiasm
Things that are red orange communicate enthusiasm, passion and zeal. The color embodies excitement, eagerness and motivation.
Creativity
Red orange relates to creativity, inspiring imaginative thinking, innovative solutions, and artistic expression. It sparks ingenuity and the flow of new ideas.
Confidence
Shades of red orange convey confidence, self-assurance, and courage. The color reflects boldness, pluck, and an ability to rise to challenges.
Determination
Red orange can symbolize drive, resolve, persistence, and force of will. It communicates focus and motivation to keep pushing forward.
Success
In some contexts, red orange denotes achievement, thriving, and reaching one’s potential. It can be tied to ambition and visions of victory.
Friendliness
Despite its high energy, red orange maintains an air of friendliness. Its warmth balances its intensity with an inviting, uplifting spirit.
Uniqueness
Red orange’s novelty helps things stand out. It lends a quality of innovation, originality, and thinking outside the box.
Uses of Red Orange in Design and Branding
Red orange is a versatile shade that gets a lot of use across visual design disciplines. Here are some of the ways it comes into play in branding, marketing, web design, interior design and more:
Grabbing Attention
Red orange is highly visible, making it useful for grabbing attention in designs. It signals excitement and gets noticed against more subtle backgrounds.
Conveying Energy
In logos, advertisements, web graphics and more, red orange can convey energy, vigor and youthful appeal. It brings a sense of vitality.
Suggesting Adventure
Extreme sports companies, travel brands and outdoor recreation businesses sometimes utilize red orange to suggest adventure and high-thrill action.
Highlighting Creativity
Red orange can be used in arts, media and entertainment marketing to highlight creative positioning. It reflects ingenuity and imagination.
Promoting Enthusiasm
Brands can leverage red orange to communicate zeal, eagerness, spirit, and passion when promoting products, events and ideas.
Adding Vibrance
In interior design, fashion and visual media, red orange injects vibrant color as an accent. This lively touch energizes the overall look.
Signaling Industrial Safety
Safety signage, clothing, equipment and architecture utilize red orange for high visibility. This helps promote caution in industrial settings.
Inspiring Appetite
Restaurants, bars and food brands connect red orange to appetizing food and drink, from citrus flavors to spicy cuisines.
Evoking Nostalgia
Retro design pieces can use red orange to tap into nostalgic feelings, from 1950s diners to 1970s style. It feels inherently retro.
Conclusion
Red orange is truly an energetic, stimulating shade with natural vitality. It embodies both the passion and warmth of its component hues red and orange, combining them into a color that conveys positivity and enthusiasm. In nature, red orange displays itself prominently in things like citrus fruits, flowers, spices, fish and coral reefs. It takes center stage in man-made objects too, used for visibility and to symbolize safety. On a symbolic level, red orange communicates confidence, determination, creativity and zeal. These attributes make it a bold, lively choice for designs across industries seeking to grab attention in an optimistic way. Red orange provides visual pop and positive connotations that can make marketing, products and environments more engaging and effective. Overall, the color is versatile and lively, with an enduring ability to catch the eye while promoting an outgoing, friendly spirit.
| Things in Nature | Man-Made Objects | Symbolic Meanings |
|---|---|---|
| Citrus fruits | Safety vests and cones | Energy |
| Red flowers | Fiesta dinnerware | Adventure |
| Spices | Traffic signs | Enthusiasm |
| Lava rocks | Prison uniforms | Creativity |
| Butterflies | Lipstick | Confidence |
| Coral reefs | Crayons | Determination |
| Goldfish | Hot sauce | Success |
