Here at OZY, we love color. Just look at our homepage: Yellow! Purple! Green! That’s because, ahem, we’re very stylish people with a discerning eye for design, but it’s also because we believe certain colors project the kind of energy, optimism and freshness that matches our content. So color us intrigued when we heard British economist Noreena Hertz, the author of Eyes Wide Open: How to Make Smart Decisions in a Confusing World, explaining how color can be much more than just a subtle mood enhancer.  

In Part 1 of this new video series, Hertz highlights research from around the world that shows how our subconscious reacts to colors in surprising ways. She may cause you to reconsider everything from the color of your shirt to the color of your paperwork to the color of your profile pic. (*Note to OZY’s beloved photo team: Can we please buy a red background?)