Neon is a bright and eye-catching color that’s perfect for capturing attention in your designs. The neon palette is filled with warm and cool colors that are both bold and beautiful, making it easy to find the right hues for your project.
Neon, which is found mainly in the atmosphere of Earth and in the Sun, was first discovered in 1898 by British scientists William Ramsay and Morris Travers. They were investigating argon, which they had previously isolated from liquid air, and spotted a gas that looked like argon but glowed a brilliant crimson when exposed to electricity. Ramsay named the new gas neon, based on its Greek meaning “new.” The gas is inert and nonreactive under normal conditions, but when coaxed with electricity into a glass tube it glows. That’s the process that creates the iconic neon signs we see all over the world.
Aside from being a popular sign material, neon is also used in diving equipment, lasers, and high-voltage indicators. Liquid neon can maintain a temperature of -246°C, so it is also used as a cryogenic refrigerant.
As with any color scheme, it’s important to understand your project’s needs before choosing neon. Consider what emotions you want to evoke, who your audience is, and how the color will align with your design’s overall theme or brand. Maximalist designs can benefit from a combination of bright neons with muted or white text, while more minimalist projects can add the pop of neon without overwhelming the rest of the palette.