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As much as I love design research, there's something about colour research that kind of bothers me. Yes, colours hold meanings, they are associated with things and can make us feel a certain way. But the problem is that colour is subjective. Who's to say I see a colour exactly the same way you do? Even if we did, we could have different reactions to it. There is so much variability in people and their cultures, in their experiences, in what makes them them that it's hard to apply colour research findings with any confidence. Add the fact that light, context, textures and patterns, shape and form and surrounding colours affects our colour experience, it all gets so uncertain. Something is lacking in colour research regarding interior environments.
Well, when I found this paper, it struck a chord. So I saved it for a Research Findings Friday :)
The person environment relationship and the nature of colour are both well-studied areas. Dr. Smith proposes a theoretical concept that can combine these topics in order to understand better how colour affects our relationship with a built environment. It's called the Colour Person Environment Relationship (COL-PE).
Colours affect us. Environments affect us. COL-PE is about thinking of colour not as an extra quality to an environment but instead as an active player in people's relationships with different environments. The same person can have different reactions to an environment depending on their state. Are they simply a viewer, taking a look around? Are they participating in the environment? Or are they completely immersed in it? In turn colour affects (facilitates or hinders) each of these states, but perhaps in different ways. So you can understand that the relationship between colour, environment and person can have many dimensions.
If you'd like a deeper understanding of COL-PE, please read the paper.
So, Dr. Smith urges that this theoretical concept is important for designers and that environment colour researchers should investigate it further.
I agree.
What do you think? Do you share my frustration when it comes to colour research?
Have a wonderful weekend,
Xx. Holly.
* References:
I am not an expert in colour research. I haven't read enough studies to contribute to this mammoth subject matter.
ReplyDeleteI do, however, agree with Dr. Smith's Colour Person Environment Relationship theory. It is so subjective and totally impossible to write up a study on purely colour. Where do you start? Also, we all know that white has many shades which some would consider a colour.
One example that springs to mind is The David Hockney Exhibition, a bigger picture: http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/hockney/
There you'll see that what to most people looks like a dreary country lane in the winter in Yorkshire, England to DH looks like a vibrancy of colours you would find in the Rio Carnival. So, who'se to say? We all see colour differently!
Great stimulating post, as all the Research Findings Fridays. Happy weekend x
Oh cool link Tina! I really enjoyed that video. Blue trees, yes! Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteColour is a massive subject. I'll never concur it - nor do I wish to, lol! I just wish to keep learning enough to be able to use colour appropriately and creatively in my work.
Colour is fun, and challenging, and FUN ;)
Xx.