The Fiery Appeal of Scarlet: History, Symbolism, and Design Tips
Discover the cultural and historical significance of Scarlet and how to use it effectively in branding and design.
With such a colorful history, how can Scarlet be used in your brand?
The History of Scarlet:
Scarlet was originally the name of a woolen cloth, not a color
Mary Queen of Scots was dressed in a Scarlet undergarment at her execution, a color associated with martyrdom in the Catholic church, making it her final act of defiance
The Scarlet Letter, a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, features a main character who wears the letter A around her neck to symbolize that she committed adultery and bring her public shame
Made in the fourteenth century using tiny Kermes insects, it took 80 female Kermes beetles imported from Europe to make 1 gram, making it expensive. Clothes dyed from it exuded luxury
Charlemagne wore Scarlet leather shoes when crowned Holy Roman Emperor in A.D. 800
Laws passed in Léon and Castile in the thirteenth century restricted kings' use of color
Elizabeth I wore Scarlet as a princess but took to wearing tawny, gold, and ash (color inspiration to try: I mean if it works for the royals…), and her ladies-in-waiting wore Scarlet
In 1464, Paul the Second decreed that his cardinals would wear robes of Scarlet when the Tyrian purple moles became extinct. This meant that Scarlet was forever associated with the church
And on it goes.
An Image of the Kermes Beetles
How to Use Scarlet:
Here are three creative techniques to try when working with Scarlet.
Color Wheel:
With the Adobe color wheel, I'm not confined to the limitations of Canva's color wheel. I can freely add my Scarlet #ED2100 hex color and experiment with complementary colors. The tool suggests a color, but I can move the colors around, giving me the perfect playground as a designer.
As I keep adding colors, I'm delighted to see more color schemes opening up to me; it's like a game. The possibilities are endless, and I'm excited to explore compound and square color schemes once I have four colors.
I am in experimentation-heaven here!
Continue playing until you are happy with 5-6 colors.
Monochromatic Colors:
Just a quick reminder, mono means one color. When you're working with a monochromatic color scheme, all you're doing is playing with shades (by adding black), tints (by adding white), and tones (by adding gray) to your chosen base color. It's a straightforward process that you can master with ease.
Not only is it great to use a monochromatic color scheme with a vibrant color like Scarlet, but it also:
Creates visual clarity within your design
Surprisingly versatile, color overlays can be added to Photography and every touch point across the brand
Creating is easier as a designer as you don't have to incorporate as many colors
Limiting the Color Scarlet:
Example Work:
MAC: "I only wear MAC" works both for the naked women and for Martha Stewart, who is fully clothed. I love that Scarlet was chosen here as it's an empowering choice.
Studio Anna B’s work shows the limited use of Scarlet. She understands that this bright color can be overpowering and shows restraint here. I love the little touches of Scarlet and Magenta here and there, and the added texture that makes it more gorgeous. This is lovely work for Matta Cuckoo.