Using Color Coding in Business

Using Color Coding in Business

Beryl Frank, RAAND President

Apply through the products we have available for you…

Color schemes are applied to signify: process, safety level, urgency, order, product group, activity, phase, market, location, paths.

Color is used in different product groups we offer, such as; filing, the desktop, forms, signage, marketing, promotional items, instructional materials.

You can integrate color with other systems, such as: numbers, alpha systems, or icons.

Color is a useful tool, but, there are so many options that the use of color can become confusing. Color is used everywhere to either send a message, create a feeling, or for organization. So how do you setup a color system in your work environment to improve organizational efficiency?

My suggestion is to rely on the old adage….“Everything is good in moderation”. Find the most important areas to organize. If there is a more specific and economical approach, such as icons, materials, shapes, signs…use them instead of color or in combination with the basic universal messages that color implies. Avoid color systems in your work environment that would have conflicts in your industry.

From my experience universal color messages would be: RED or PINK is Hot; GREEN is Money, Environmental, or Action; YELLOW is, either an Alert or an Idea; BLUE is a color that is free of business connotations, but might be applied based on its connection to natural phenomenon as water or sky.

IN PRINT - Color attributes can be applied using…

Paper

Single Forms: can be printed on a wide selection of paper colors economically.

Multipart Forms: normally about 6 colors available. 

Edge Glued Forms: come in standard sequences, depending on the number of parts Covers: use color covers for reports, or on documents such as court papers.

Ink

Standard ink colors are economical for identification using custom or stock labels, and other printed items

Four Color Process

Mainly for marketing materials or providing a representation of your color systems. These colors can also be represented digitally a well to carry your message.

Binding Edge

COLOR TAPE: use on custom imprinted legal pads.

PLASTIC COILS: color coils can be ordered in our Make-UR-Own books system in combination with a variety of cover colors and stocks.

Custom Filing Products

We provide Smead products that offer color options in various materials. Smead is a big proponent and partner for the use of color.

Give us a call at 518-465-3248 or drop us an email at customerservice@raand.com. Visit us at www.raand.com!