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In this recent followup to Frank Mahnke’s first book, he collaborates with colleagues Gerhard Meerwein and Bettina Rodeck , presenting this comprehensive approach to using color in architecture. The focus is on the physiological, psychological and neurophysological aspects of using color in the built environment.
Sometimes a movie’s color theme is so pervasive I just can’t ignore it. Ever since I saw the 1998 version of Great Expectations, I’ve had my color-antennae on alert, and even though I’m a film fan anyway, it’s more enjoyable and interesting when I think about the color associations and what the director’s intentions might be.
What brings this topic to mind at this time is that an associate in the IACCNA recently sent a note about a book she’d discovered, If it’s Purple, Someone’s Gonna Die.
A fascinating book about color use in the theater and cinema
It reminds me of my experience with the green theme in that movie. Of course, I was not alone in noticing something so obvious as the fresh new spring-like green of early childhood and innocence; the more acid green of jealously and suspicion, and evolution to the poisonous black-filled green towards the end of the movie.
When I looked up “green in the movies” on the internet, I was surprised to see the range of responses that came up. Some people really had no idea why a color would be used in so many ways, while others were quite aware of the connection between color and our emotional responses.
When we use color in our own environments it can be with a similar intention even though the effect is less intense. After all, we’re actually living in our spaces, not just passing through for a couple of hours. For example, translate the different greens to use of blues. When I hear the phrase…”blue is relaxing,” I immediately want to ask, “what color blue?” Is it a clear cerulean “sky blue?” Maybe electric neon blue, or the color of Atlantic depths.
Just as the use of greens in that movie carried such a wide range of expressions, any color can be highly nuanced; there’s no finite recipe for color use.
But that’s part of the beauty of a color experience whether it’s through entertainment, literature, our own homes, or any of the myriad ways we can enjoy working with color.
Thanks to Lausanne Davis Carpenter for the tip about this book.
If you have theatrical color experiences you’d like to share, please use our comments feature do to so. You can also email your ‘home color experiences,’ for possible inclusion in future blog posts.
–Barbara
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The subject is color use in cinema, something we can appreciate whether we notice it or not!
What’s “fun” about “functional color?” Even though that sounds a bit dry, it’s gratifying to help create beautiful and healthy built environments of all types, inside and out. Another way color use can be functional is helping business people use color effectively in their marketing and products. Part of this includes looking at current and future trends and events as they might apply to us in our homes, workplaces, and personally.
So, it seemed fitting to launch my Integral Color Blog with a few notes about a Not-New idea that is in the news from time to time, “Color Psychology.” This subject always makes a big splash in shelter magazines and on the web.
A question: Why the currently elevated interest in colors…from intense to subtle?
image source: Dance of Colors, by Josef Stuefer
It’s a fact: we crave color in our environments. Actually, this is a complex physiological and emotional experience. And it’s not just about color. Design in general always carries a lot of ‘buzz.’ One thought: could it be that the more pressure and stress there is in our lives the more we crave beautiful and aesthetically satisfying surroundings?
Most of our color choices have to do with what we see around us in fashion, furnishings, and other products. At the same time, our personal life experiences play in important role in how we make these color decisions. And, of course, our preferences can change from time to time—sometimes seemingly moment to moment! So, we wonder… “what’s the ‘best’ color for me, to be comfortable, healthy, happy, secure, romantic…” Well, while there is probably not one Best color for any of these things, there are ways of using color that can help.
The effects of color are everywhere. We’re influenced in ways both physical and psychological. Color use is not something that results in—or from— a definitive, simplistic equation between “color and our moods.”
What is “color psychology” and where does that idea come from? It’s much more involved than “…Blue makes you relaxed…”
Color, Environment, & Human Response—the newest book by Frank Mahnke —provides a detailed exploration of how we are deeply affected by the colors around us.
If you like to read about color, check out our new Integral Color Design Library, with books by Faber Birren, Frank Mahnke, and others. These will give you an idea about the scope of some of the issues of concern to a color consultant.
I’ll be adding to the Design Library from time to time, with books about a variety of related subjects. I look forward to sharing these interesting color-and-design resources with you.
Until next time—enjoy your colorful experiences, wherever you are!
-Barbara
Register for our e-newsletter and download your pdf of our white paper
“Enjoy the Process: Guidelines for Working with a Design Professional.”
 Accredited Color Consultant, IACC International Association of Color Consultants/ Designers
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