Equestrian Design: The Importance of Color

When I started doing graphic design in high school, my first project was a website I made (for fun) about my horse, Dancer. I had no idea what I was doing, but I really liked designing on the computer and I had fun learning how to put together the website. Everything I did, I had to learn myself by trial & error. Back then, the resources weren’t freely available for anyone to go online and download tutorials or find thousands of examples for inspiration (think AOL & Windows 1998). So, I relied on horse magazines, other websites and got inspiration from things around me. When I got to college, I really began to learn the details of what makes a design good… and bad!

I started analyzing logos, posters and websites for class and learning all about color, composition and why they’re called “typefaces” and not “fonts”! I think it was my background in painting that helped me discover my love for color in the design realm and how it conveys different things. So, for my first equestrian design post, I’d like to point out some really great examples of color usage in logos and print for equestrian identity.

But first, let’s break down some simple facts about color, starting with those that are “complimentary” (aka, colors that work best together)…

And once you have that down, you can really focus on color and how it effects your brand. Different colors tend to produce specific feelings in the viewer and it’s important to keep this in mind when choosing color for your brand. You wouldn’t want to create a Dressage barn logo in neon colors because that pretty much goes against everything in the Dressage culture. (Trust me on this one! haha!) But those colors might work great for a line of equestrian shirts for little girls or teens. On the other hand, you don’t want to make your logo so bland that it’s not noticeable at all and totally blends in with its surroundings. Color is really something you have to experiment with and get a feel for, but your client will probably have some preferences as well. And the chart above is a great reference…

So, let’s look at a few different equestrian logos and really focus on the color. I’ve always loved the logo for Baker and I feel like they have their own color and pattern association that is so recognizable, you don’t even have to look at the brand to know that the blanket is Baker. (Or the grey full seat breeches with the plaid pockets that I love to wear to the barn!) But their logo has typically been red with a yellow circle that the horse resides inside of. I happen to love the color red, and I think the color combo of red & yellow is very eye catching. The bold red is balanced by the bright, warmer yellow and it is said that these are the two most visually attractive colors! So why not put them together? The Baker logo was first introduced in 1891 and the company, Curvon, still operates out of New Jersey! Talk about a lasting impression!

Hermes is another equestrian brand that I feel is highly associated with color. They’re known for their “Hermes Orange”, just as Tiffany is know for its specific shade of blue! This is another company that was established in the 1800’s – 1837 to be exact – and the logo that we’re familiar with today was introduced in the 1950’s, along with the signature orange box. We all know how wildly popular the Hermes fashion line has always been, especially it’s scarves which often feature equestrian themes. More recently, Hermes has introduced a line of equestrian fashion, jewelry and even saddles that instantly went on every equestrienne’s wish list! But let’s get back to that logo! Why a carriage horse, you ask? Well, Hermes started as a harness workshop in Paris and expanded their line in 1900 to include a bag to carry saddles in…. and it only got bigger from there! The signature orange is widely recognized as Hermes and is still used in their advertising and even on their products. I think orange was a great choice for the company because it definitely stands out and makes a bold statement which is highly important in the world of advertising…and fashion!

Wondering exactly what this shade of orange is and how to get it? Many people think this combo is a great match: Hex code: FD5EOF and RGB: 253, 94, 15. Notice any other equestrian logos with unique color branding? I’d love to hear about them! I guess I am a bit of a color nerd…