BRANDING agency 1HQ has analysed different Santas currently being used on seasonal packaging and marketing material to determine the ‘true’ shade of red his suit is.
The agency colour sampled different Santa suits, featured on everything from jars of Nutella, to Coca-Cola cans and M&S advent calendars, in order to create a colour swatch of all the different shades of red currently being used.
The next step was to combine these in order to determine an average of the shades used – or as 1HQ have crowned it ‘Santa Red’.
The agency has provided the RGB, CYMK and Hex Code for the colour so that any brands or aspiring graphic designers can use the colour in their work and Santa can finally have a consistent brand design.
Matt Thom, 1HQ’s design director, said, “Plenty of thought goes into giving designs their best colour or colour combinations – from the psychology and emotional pull they evoke, to owning a space as a product, brand, or season. Christmas offers no better occasion to pull on the emotional connection of colour, and the association of red – from mulled wine, warm fires, robins, Rudolph and of course the jolly, old bringer of Christmas cheer himself, Santa.
“He is completely synonymous with red, although much like the yeti and Loch Ness monster, no one’s actually had the pleasure to question the real man in person (despite his many helpers) and find out his true tone of festive fashion. So, we’ve offered our suggestion on what that might be.”
