Sharing KNOWLEDGE + EXPERIENCE about COLOR

  • Research 
  • Design/Arts 
  • Industry
  • Education

The Color Council (ISCC) is the principal interdisciplinary society in the United States dedicated to advancing color research and best practices in industry, design/arts and education.

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Rochester Institute of Technology

June 16-18, 2025
Click here to register now!

Join us for a perfect blend of learning, innovation and
community building for anyone passionate about color!

Find out more HERE.


Upcoming Events

    • 02 May 2025
    • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
    • virtual
    • 279
    Register

    WHO University students and faculty
    WHEN     
    May 2, 2025, @ 1 pm. US Eastern

    This presentation will focus on printed color through story and form with Kansas City Art Institute Professor Laura Crehuet Berman and Senior Printmaking Department students.  Esther Bach, Hannah Dixon, Analee Hyacinthe, and Sarah Manuel will share their BFA thesis work in relation to color, process, form, and narrative. The KCAI Printmaking Department teaches a unique course, "Color in Printmaking," developed by Laura, in which students determine and define their own color story within their artwork.


    Left to Right: Analee Hyacinthe, Sarah Manuel, Laura Crehuet Berman, Esther Bach, Hannah Dixon

    Presenters:

    • Laura Crehuet Berman is a visual artist and a Professor in the Printmaking Department at Kansas City Art Institute, where she has taught courses in printmaking, book arts, and color since 2002. In 2024 was a Fulbright Senior Scholar at the University of Canberra, Australia, where she furthered her research on printmaking and color.

    https://www.instagram.com/bermanlaura/

    https://www.lauracrehuetberman.com/

    • Esther Bach is a printmaker whose work explores liminal home interiors and feelings of nostalgia and longing through the mediums of lithography and mezzotints. In her free time, she can be found craving Taco Bell and knitting things for her friends.

    https://www.instagram.com/estherbachart/

    • Hannah Dixon is a printmaker based in Kansas City, Missouri. Currently working towards her BFA in Printmaking and Art History from the Kansas City Art Institute, her projected graduation date is Spring 2025. She uses lithography, monotype, and screen printing processes in her practice. Looking ahead, Hannah plans to attend a graduate program for printmaking.

    https://www.instagram.com/hannsdot.dart/

    • Analee Hyacinthe is a printmaker, painter, and book artist who creates short, gothic illustrations featuring themes of idolization, the pursuit of power, and death. Based between Kansas City, Missouri and Miami, Florida, Analee is currently pursuing a BFA in printmaking at the Kansas City Art Institute, with an expected graduation date of 2025. She works as a puppeteer under Soulbird studios, performing at venues such as 18th and Vine Art Fest (2023) and Kansas City Renaissance Faire (2023-present).

    https://www.instagram.com/inky.presses/

    • Sarah Manuel is an Asian American artist working in printmaking and digital processes. She explores the themes of cultural identity and adoption through images of family and pop culture. After graduating from KCAI this semester, Sarah will work as a Summer Intern at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Village, Colorado.

    https://www.instagram.com/sy_manwell_prints/

    FLUORESCENT FRIDAYS is a platform for university students from all disciplines to network with color professionals and fellow students, and to explore cutting-edge information about color’s role in our lives and applications in the world. 

    Global Student Chapter: The long range goal is to build a global student chapter that positions color as a multidimensional STEAM model (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math), sharing up-to-date color research by scientists, artists, designers, industry professionals, and university students.21st century color communication requires a commitment to building bridges for sharing resources, cultivating mentors, and creating new opportunities. With up-to-date information and useful tools, students become the next generation of leaders in ever-evolving color related disciplines.

    • 13 May 2025
    • 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
    • virtual
    Register


    Sam Francis and Color
    Sam Francis (1923-1994) was an internationally acclaimed Abstract Expressionist who spoke of color as “a kind of holy substance” and a “receptacle of a feeling.” In this webinar art historian John Seed and Francis’s biographer Gabrielle Selz will explore the artist’s fascination with color and the varied effects and meanings he generated with it over the span of his career. They will also describe his collaborations with Daniel Cytron, a studio assistant who for three decades manufactured custom acrylic color dispersions and printing inks to Francis’s specifications. 

    Speaker bios:

    John Seed is professor emeritus of art and art history at Mount San Jacinto College in Southern California. Seed has written about art and artists for publications including The Huffington Post, Arts of Asia, and Hyperallergic, and is the author of Disrupted Realism: Paintings for a Distracted World. For over a decade Seed has also served as a board member for the Los Angeles based Sam Francis Foundation. 

    Gabrielle Selz is an art historian, fine art appraiser, and award-winning author. Her most recent book was the first comprehensive biography of Sam Francis, Light on Fire: the Art and Life of Sam Francis, which was awarded the Silver Medal for Best Nonfiction by the California Book Awards 2021. Her previous book, Unstill Life: Art and Love in the Age of Abstraction, received the best memoir of the year award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) and was listed as one of the best books of 2014 by the San Francisco Chronicle. Her essays have appeared in The New Yorker, More Magazine, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Daily Beat, Literary Hub, Berkeleyside and Newsday among others. Her art criticism has appeared in Art Forum, Hyperallergic and Art Papers.
    • 17 May 2025
    • 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
    • Virtual
    Register


    The Colour Literacy Forum is an international, collaborative effort to align university-level colour education with current design needs in the culture. The goal of the Forum is to connect faculty, students, and administrators with interdisciplinary professionals to provide cutting-edge research, curricula, tools, and resources.

    The Colour Literacy Forum is a virtual platform featuring presentations and interactive conversations focused on updating and expanding 21st century colour education at the university level. The goal of this global collaboration is to develop an interdisciplinary STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) model that positions colour as a Meta-discipline and aligns colour education with current needs in the culture, providing cutting-edge resources, and offering dynamic networking opportunities for all stakeholders.

    Register using the button at left. For complete details visit Colour Literacy Project.

    2025 Series: Facts and Myths About Color

    Beyond Hue: Reframing Colour for a Multidimensional World

    Saturday May 17, 2025, 11am ET

    Talk 1: The age of [colour] reason: How seeing “beyond hue” helps designers think about colour design

    The colour design problem my research and method seek to address is the absence of a rational method for making colour selections for design projects. Beginning with the assumption that design is both a rational and an intuitive process we will explore why the traditional hue-based colour psychology (Hue Paradigm) makes it virtually impossible for designers to use reason when assembling colour palettes. We will look at the roots of the Hue Paradigm and then compare the thought processes of researchers and designers, which may clarify why colour findings often have limited application in design practice.

    Fortunately, recent research suggesting that there are additional meanings associated with a colour’s value (lightness) and chroma (i.e., pale, dark, vivid and muted colours) is grounded by a psychological theory that does lend itself to a systematic and rational approach. We will review this research, and consider an evolutionary theory for why the meanings of pale, dark, vivid and muted colours appear to be intuitive and widespread. Finally, the Colour Character Compass will be introduced as a tool to support rational thought about colour design.

    The Speaker: Ellen Divers

    Ellen Divers is an Independent Design Theorist and Researcher whose focus is the development of an evidence-based thought process to help colour professionals interpret and use colour meaningfully in their work. An undergraduate degree in Psychology, an M.Ed., a minor in Studio Art, and a B.S. in Interior Design inform her approach to both reviewing and conducting research, as well as how to incorporate it into the design process. Born in the United States and raised in Argentina, Ellen’s perspective on colour (and life in general) was shaped by navigating between cultures -- an experience that taught her to look beneath the surface of things for common threads
    and universal connections. In recent years Ellen has presented at multiple conferences and published articles on this subject. She has served on the Board of the Inter-Society Color Council and the IACC-NA (International Association of Color Consultants and Designers of North America). The Divers|Method for colour design is currently being piloted with design students and she has plans to eventually make a course available to a broader audience of design professionals. Website: www.ellendiversdesign.com

    Talk 2: ...Beyond Hue: Identity and cultural heritage in the case of Oregon colours

    Amidst the ongoing societal reconstruction, our research focuses on establishing ‘spaces of identification’ for an environment that reflects and respects the Pacific Northwest heritage and its culture for shared ethnicities and backgrounds. The project is dedicated to unveiling the practical benefits of colour’s role and its transformative potential. By understanding and leveraging the power of our colour heritage and how it relates to our cultural identity, we aim to foster a more supportive environment. Student projects involve researching and presenting the influence of colour and its interaction with natural environments. Context, objects, and circumstances are observed through the lens of colour, creating insights and understanding that allow
    us to study the identity of colour beyond the first glance. Our heritage
    is immortal and anchored in us. This understanding can lead to practical applications such as designing spaces conducive to promoting our traditions. These benefits are theoretical possibilities and solutions that can pave the way for a healthier future for all, instilling confidence in our approach. This research is multidisciplinary, with national and international collaborators significantly contributing to its success. This international connection underscores our work’s global relevance and impact, making you part of a more significant movement in cultural studies and environmental design.

    The Speaker: Esther Hagenlocher

    Esther Hagenlocher is an Associate Professor. As the Head of the Interior Architecture Department at the University of Oregon, she holds a joint position in the Interior Architecture Department and the Architecture Department. She has designed and executed residential projects and designs for international exhibition projects. Hagenlocher’s research concerns the perception and performance of spaces, particularly regarding colour, light, material, and colour reflectivity in daylit spaces. Her current project is a scholarly exploration of Fritz Seitz’s artistic work (1926-2017), including preserving his works and research focusing on colour. Her affiliations include the AIC and DFZ (Curatorium Colour and Architecture); for more than eleven years, a collaboration between the University of Oregon and RAL COLOURS Germany on colour education, and colour workshops that underscore the international nature of colour and the global community it connects with.


    • 20 May 2025
    • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
    • virtual
    • 30
    Register

    Colorful Connections is an opportunity to gather informally with other members of ISCC for a little socializing, networking and learning from each other. Discussions are wide-ranging and depend on attendees, their current interests and past experience. Consider this the online version of coffee breaks and happy hours at a color conference. BYO coffee or beverage and join in the conversation! 

    Note that this is Members Only event. Not a member, no problem - Join here!

    • 16 Jun 2025
    • 8:30 AM
    • 18 Jun 2025
    • 5:30 PM
    • Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, USA
    Register





    Join us at Rochester Institute of Technology, in Rochester, NY, on June 16-18, 2025. We have full days planned for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, including formal presentations, panels, receptions, and maybe even a few surprises!

    Prior to the conference, will offer a full day of workshops on Sunday June 15. Workshop participants as well as anyone who wishes to arrive a day early can also reserve a dorm room for the night of Saturday June 14.

    Registration fees and costs for optional events are available now. Registration will open on March 21, International Colour Day. Here are details about accommodations.

    If you are already a Color Council Member, be sure to sign in before you register to receive the Member Discount. If you are new to ISCC or not yet a member, join now and save $75 on your conference registration.

    We look forward to seeing you in June!

 NEWS!

Deadlines for our Student Support Grant are May 15 and October 15 of each year. This grant is designed to assist undergraduate and graduate students with activities pertaining to colorDetails and application forms here.


Grow your color knowledge

Learn and connect with color professionals through our events, resources, and programs!


The Colour Literacy Project is an educational initiative to strengthen the bridge between art and science in 21st century colour education.

This project provides foundational, state-of-the-art resource within a STEAM framework. Teaching guides available for free download.

VISIT COLORLITERACY.ORG


Join students from all disciplines and network with color professionals. Discover state-of-the-art information about color in our lives and applications in the world. New episode every month. One-hour presentation on topics such as branding, architecture, paint, and more.

MORE ABOUT FLUORESCENT FRIDAYS


Consider this the online version of coffee breaks and happy hours at a color conference. BYO coffee or beverage and join in the conversation!

Socialize, network, and learn! Discussions are wide-ranging and depend on attendees, their current interests and past experience.

REGISTER FOR THE NEXT ONE


A deeper dive into a range of topics related to color. 

BOLD: Color from Test Tube to Textile

Presented by Dr Elisabeth Berry Drago, Director of Visitor Engagement at the Science History Institute. Recorded January 23, 2024.


We are sharing this webinar to non-members for free. Visit this link and enter your name and email address. 


A Look Inside Our Quarterly:

Join the Color Council to receive the entire publication!


Diffusion Material for Luminous Mosaic Images

In this editorial, Richard Travis presents a follow-up to his 2021 pair of articles about color education and additive color mixing, which also serves to remind us all to have a look at both of his preceding works.

Read more>>


Blue Morphos Have a Cool Color

I first encountered the blue morpho in Kai Kupferschmidt’s book, Blue: In Search of Nature’s Rarest Color, which I reviewed in Issue 504 of ISCC News. There I learned about a tricky problem that the butterfly appears to have solved through natural selection. Interference patterns can lead to brilliant structural colors, but the color you see generally depends on the angles of illumination and viewing.

Read more>>

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