Colour doesn’t exist as an abstract concept, but instead flourishes within our minds as a direct response to the stimuli of light. It beds down in the motherboard of our brains, affecting the way we feel, understand, and interact with the world. Colour is at the heart of our human experience.
When we talk about colour in design, often the conversation leans towards vibrant expressions or pops of brightness in an otherwise monochromatic landscape. There is absolutely a place and a need for elements of colourfulness in our world, but my philosophy posits a more holistic and integrated approach to colour that is rooted in experience and community consultation, to create more culturally inclusive and intuitive places for people and planet.
When we look towards the future of the spaces that we share; offices, hospitality, retail or healthcare, it’s clear that there has been a subtle (or not so subtle) behavioural shift in the way that we now engage. Front and centre of this is the protection and augmentation of our wellbeing, both individually and collectively. The question is how together or apart do we want to be?
We are looking for environments that give us agency and enhance our experience. Too much chromaticity, we feel enclosed and stressed, too little and our energy levels plummet. It’s always fascinating as a colour specialist understanding the challenges for interior designers and architects. High on the list is transitioning colour between spaces and uses. To smoothly facilitate this, we need to embrace harmonised palettes rooted in our psychological relationship with colour, that are designed for the complete journey, allowing for moments of relaxation as well as boosting activation.