Love and Luck

Every February an explosion of color at a variety of public venues makes red the color of love or good luck for Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year celebrations. With the longest wavelength of any color, red packs power and the property of visually appearing to be nearer than it actually is, compelling our attention. Red is a stimulant that produces physical effects: raising pulse and respiratory rates; increasing enthusiasm, energy levels, and confidence; and creating the impression that time passes faster than it does. Associated with passion, strength, vigor, and determination, red can also express anger, danger, and stress.

Charged with social meaning—the romance of a single red rose, the color of a Chinese wedding dress or New Year’s envelope, or a stop sign or warning of impending danger—red speaks.

Honing in on its most positive attributes makes red a strong design feature and a favorite brand color.

Bacardi's US Headquarters in Coral Gables

Bacardi USA Headquarters, Phase Two, Coral Gables, FL Photography © Robin Hill

With a sophisticated flare, Bacardi’s brand color red highlights the design of its new space.

Bacardi's US Headquarters

Bacardi USA Headquarters, Phase Two, Coral Gables, FL Photography © Robin Hill

Throughout, the use of red references brand.

McCormick Headquarters, Hunt Valley, MD. Photography © Eric Laignel.

The McCormick brand, over 100 years old, is synonymous with the color red.

McCormick Headquarters, Hunt Valley, MD. Photography © Eric Laignel.

Bringing brand into the cafe, neutral tabletops and a custom, fun wallcovering balance a legion of red chairs.

CNA Headquarters, Chicago. Photography © Tom Harris.

At CNA heaquarters in Chicago, brand color red plays counterpoint to smoked glass with gray and white walls; red acoustic felt walls complete the meeting room.

LinkedIn, Toronto Photography © Eric Laignel.

Red defines a cozy niche for work or hanging out.

Red Hat, Mountain View, CA. Photography © Jasper Sanidad.

For both employees and visitors red pops and supports a strong brand message.

SapientNitro in Santa Monica, California. Photo by Eric Laignel.

SapientNitro in Santa Monica, California. Photo by Eric Laignel.

Just enough red enlivens the reception desk and counter workspace.

Confidential Client, Chicago. Photography © Garrett Rowland.

Red, warmed by wood paneling, defines a welcoming space for work or relaxation.

Virgin Voyages, Plantation, FL. Photography © Robin Hill.

A red-lite conference room is an energized ambience for making creative decisions.


IA is a global firm of architects, designers, strategists, and specialists. We focus exclusively on environments through the lens of interior architecture—a radical idea in 1984, when IA was founded. We are highly connected agents of change, committed to creativity, innovation, growth, and community.



IA is a global firm of architects, designers, strategists, and specialists. We focus exclusively on environments through the lens of interior architecture—a radical idea in 1984, when IA was founded. We are highly connected agents of change, committed to creativity, innovation, growth, and community.



We recently caught up with Retail Design Director Ron Singler and asked him a few questions about the new landscape of retail design from multi-channel environments to emotional appeal to apps and sustainability.

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