Oxford Blue

Bleu de France is one of France's national symbolic colors. In the Middle Ages, French royalty chose blue for heraldry—"Azure semé de fleurs-de-lis or." This was unusual, as blue was once considered a "barbarian" color. King Louis IX (Saint Louis) first used blue in royal arms. The tricolor flag's blue represents freedom and revolution.

Aegean Blue is Greece's soul color. Santorini's white houses with blue-domed churches look like heaven's silhouette in sunlight. Greeks chose blue doors for two reasons—the "evil eye" belief that blue reflects curses, and the 1967-74 junta's mandate for blue-white uniformity. The Greek flag's nine blue-white stripes represent "Freedom or Death" syllables. Ironically, ancient Greeks considered blue a barbarian color.

IKEA Blue and IKEA Yellow form the visual identity of the world's largest furniture retailer. Blue stands for reliability, yellow for optimism and affordability. The blue signage and yellow bags shape the modern furniture-shopping experience.

Korean Cobalt Blue is the East color in Korea's "Five Directions Color" (Obangsaek) system. Derived from Chinese Five Elements theory but with unique Korean characteristics—blue (east), red (south), yellow (center), white (west), black (north). Korean architecture, hanbok, and even court cuisine follow this system.

Swedish Blue evokes the Baltic Sea, the archipelago, and endless summer skies. The yellow cross on a blue field is said to derive from the royal coat of arms, and the color appears in Midsummer wreaths, Dala horses, and IKEA products.

Bauhaus Blue is cool and rational, joining red and yellow to form the visual grammar of modern design. From the Dessau building's glass curtain wall to Breuer's tubular steel furniture, it reminds designers that beauty comes from precise construction.