Session 1 - Monday,  June 16
2:30 - 4:00

Optics Outreach - Performing experiments with K-12 with the color "Wow!" Factor 
Jennifer Kruschwitz - University of Rochester, Institute of Optics 

This short course will focus on experiments that were showcased at Fluorescent Fridays (FF) on November 1, Students in Color: Saving the Planet Through Optics Education. Other experiments will be shown that couldn't be covered in the 30 minute FF presentation. Each registrant will receive enough supplies to reproduce each experiment at the short course and at home. All attendees will be eligible to win a complete Optics Kit that contains enough materials to engage an audience of 30 for three different short course experiments. Additional Kits will be available for sale at list price.

Dr. Jennifer "Jen" Kruschwitz is an Associate Professor of Optics at the University of Rochester, Senior Scientist at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, and Program Director of the in-person and hybrid Optics MS Program at the Institute of Optics. She has her BS and MS in Optics from the University of Rochester, and her PhD in Color Science from Rochester Institute of Technology. Since 1989, she has been an industry leader in optical thin film coating design. In 2012, she was awarded Digital Rochester's Technology Woman of the Year for her contributions to optics and supporting other women engineers in her field. She has served on the Board of Directors for Optica (formally OSA), was President of the Rochester Chapter of Optica, and is currently President of the Inter-Society Color Council (ISCC). In 2018, SPIE Press published her Field Guide to Colorimetry and Fundamental Color Modeling. She has authored 11 published articles in peer-reviewed journals (including four invited), 23 peer reviewed conference presentations, 12 invited technical magazine articles, 10 invited talks, a short course, and 6 patents. She currently teaches courses in Optical Interference Coating Design, Wave Optics, and Color Technology.

The Color All Around Us
Jason Bemis

This short course delves into the rich and diverse world of color found in the endemic plants, animals, insects, and fungi of the Rochester, New York region. By examining the ecological roles, evolutionary significance, and psychological impacts of natural pigments, this event bridges science, art, and design to inspire innovative approaches to sustainable living and creative expression. Key topics include the ecological and adaptive functions of pigmentation, the relationship between form, color, and survival strategies, and exploring how botanical pigmentation can be used for modern applications. Workshops will offer hands-on opportunities to explore how local colors can inform design solutions in biomimicry, architecture, and communication, fostering human-friendly environments. This seminar invites participants to uncover the interconnectedness of nature's palette and its profound potential to influence modern design, sustainable practices, and the creation of timeless, impactful works.

Jason Bemis is a leading expert in the relationships between color, light, and the environment, serving as the primary presenter for the International Association of Color Consultants North America. With a unique background as an artist, designer, musician, and ecologist, Jason explores humanity’s co-evolution with color and light, focusing on their physiological and psychological effects. Using the scientific method, experiential exercises, and hands-on learning, Jason teaches how color and light can shape humane architectural environments that promote well-being. Jason’s expertise is applied across schools, hospitals, offices, restaurants, elderly homes, psychiatric wards, and industrial environments. By integrating art, science, and design, he creates spaces that enhance functionality and foster meaningful connections to our surroundings, making color and light indispensable tools for improving the human experience.

False Colors as Building Blocks of Information: Learning an Easy-to-Use, Open-Source Multispectral Image Processing Software (MISHA)
Juilee Decker

In the past, scholars applied lemon juice and a heat source or chemical reagents to uncover hidden features of historical documents (think: "National Treasure"). We now know that this method damaged artifacts unnecessarily and eventually made features of historical documents unreadable. Interest in this field in the late 20th and early 21st century has led to newer, safer practices involving cameras, sensors, and LED panels. As a result of a National Endowment for the Humanities Research & Development Grant (PR-268783-20), researchers at RIT have developed a low-cost, low barrier-to-entry imaging system enabling scholars, practitioners, and conservators to leverage the abilities of false color images to reveal new information about sheet, leaf, and folia as well as other forms of historical documents. This system, called MISHA (Multispectral Imaging System for Historical Artifacts), uses 16 wavelengths—from the ultraviolet to the infrared—to uncover faded, damaged, or unknown texts, images, and other emendations. In addition to the system’s ease-of-use, MISHA's open-source, Python-based processing software, puts basic image processing tools within the reach of non-scientists. Enroll in this short course for a hands-on learning opportunity using MISHA's processing software to uncover faded, hidden and damaged texts and illustrations from objects in RIT’s collection. Participants of all experience levels are welcome to join this course.

Participants will:
• learn key terms such as "false color," "data cube," and "principal component analysis;"
• learn how to create false color images as one facet of cultural heritage preservation and research;
• gain insight to processing strategies for uncovering results; and
• appraise use cases for the MISHA system and software.
NOTE: while we will briefly demo the MISHA system, use of the MISHA system is not required for use of the image processing software. The MISHA Image Processing Software may be used to process other MSI-captured data cubes.

Forgotten Memories Between Colors and Light
Andrea Alejandra Badillo Sariñana

This research explores how the interaction between light and colour can evoke memories and transform visual perception, simulating the changing and ephemeral nature of memory. Visible light, as a form of electromagnetic radiation, allows our eyes and brain to perceive colour through processes of reflection and refraction. In the retina, rods and cones transform these wavelengths into signals that are interpreted as colour and detail. Using RGB LED technology, this project recreates chromatic scenes in which light alters or fades pictorial elements, hiding or revealing them depending on their intensity and hue. This approach is inspired by how memories can fade or revive under different light conditions, representing the process of remembering and forgetting. In this course, people can make their own "forgotten memories between colors and light".

Andrea Badillo Sariñana, a visual artist from Saltillo, Mexico, is pursuing her Master's in Visual Arts at UNAM. Her work explores the interplay of light and pigment, focusing on how these elements convey meaning and emotion in art. Central to her philosophy is the theme of memory, particularly its transience, as she draws inspiration from childhood and northern Mexican landscapes. A key aspect of her art is the use of RGB LED lights, which alters color perception based on light conditions, mirroring the fleeting nature of memories. Through her innovative techniques, Andrea invites viewers to reflect on the impermanence of memories and encourages deeper contemplation of the colors and images she presents.

Session 2 - Monday,  June 16
4:15 - 5:45

How Do We Communicate Color Quality In Lighting?
Michael Murdoch and Kimberly Mercier

When done well, electric lighting is intuitive and doesn't attract attention. But, "doing it well" is tricky to define and evaluate, involving expertise in engineering, architecture, visual perception, and health. This course will explore how to communicate the important characteristics of quality in lighting, focusing primarily on color rendition, which is how a light source affects the appearance of objects and materials in an environment. Additionally, it will cover some aspects of light and human health, such as the effect of electric light on circadian rhythms. Participants will become familiar with lighting quality, learn what questions to ask of manufacturers and designers, and acquire tools to interpret lighting quality metrics when selecting lighting solutions for their needs. The course will include explanations of key lighting industry quality metrics including TM-30, CIE S-026, and LM-79, and discussions of how they communicate quality. Commercial LED products as well as research-grade LED lighting systems will be demonstrated to visually illustrate their characteristics. Participants will have the opportunity to experience differences in color temperature, color quality, color rendition, illumination level, and spatial uniformity. They will relate what they see to the metrics, values, and diagrams that are tools for communicating color quality. Participants are encouraged to bring familiar objects or material samples to use as they learn to evaluate lighting. The course will be presented in RIT's Munsell Color Science Laboratory, taking advantage of the light lab, LED systems, measurement instruments, and commercial lighting products.

Michael J. Murdoch is an experienced color science educator and former ISCC Board member, currently Associate Professor and Director of the Munsell Color Science Laboratory at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He has more than 25 years of experience with color and imaging systems, including work on film, inkjet printing, and OLED displays with Eastman Kodak (Rochester, USA) and HDR displays, computer graphics simulations, and LED lighting with Philips Research (Eindhoven, Netherlands). He leads a research project on color appearance in augmented reality (AR) funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and additionally conducts research on displays and temporally dynamic LED lighting. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Cornell, MS in Computer Science from RIT, and PhD in Human-Technology Interaction from Eindhoven University of Technology.

Kimberly Mercier is an experienced, award winning lighting designer, Professional Engineer and Chair of the IES Light and Human Health Committee, Kim bridges the gap between lighting science and application by actively participating on academic and professional development content delivery channels.  She is motivated by "bringing light" to people, to places, to history, to the built environment, and to life and her career accomplishments are representative of that singular pursuit.  Ms. Mercier has served as the international President of the IES and currently serves as Vice President of Membership on the Executive Committee of the CIE US National Committee. (Kim's complete bio here)

Thinking Differently
Arthur Bemis

This short course explores the foundational methodology for the design and development of branding or rebranding strategies tailored to global corporations. The methodology integrates the Architecture of Space framework to create a cohesive system spanning multiple hierarchical levels from the primary visual identity elements, such as the logo, mark, and signature, to the diverse internal and external communication materials. This systematic approach addresses the inherent complexity and scale of global branding by ensuring disciplined and comprehensive integration of all branding elements. A global corporation's branding demands more than visual appeal; it requires a unified strategy that accommodates diverse markets, cultures, and identities. The methodology emphasizes creating a scalable framework capable of adapting over time, aligning visual identity with corporate values and market positioning. It incorporates a structured hierarchy, ensuring that each element whether a logo or a localized brochure maintains consistency while allowing for flexibility in execution across regions and platforms. A critical aspect of this methodology is the strategic use of color as a powerful tool in communication and corporate identity. Color plays a pivotal role in evoking emotions, reinforcing brand recognition, and conveying cultural nuances. The course examines how color schemes are selected to resonate with target audiences while ensuring alignment with corporate values. By leveraging color psychology, the methodology enables corporations to build a visual language that fosters emotional connections and enhances message clarity across global markets. This short course emphasizes the design process's key components within a structured framework, organizing elements into layers for coherent implementation. It introduces a unified systems approach to tackle corporate branding complexities, ensuring consistent, strategic, and the impactful integration of color communication.

Norm-Critical Color Design: Unpacking Aesthetics, Gender, and Power in Design Objects
Kel Jackson - Royal College of Art

This short course invites participants to critically explore how color, color meanings, and aesthetic dimensions - such as line, scale, surface, proportion, reflection, and ornamentation intersect with societal norms to shape the design and perception of objects. Building on frameworks like GenderLAB and Norm-Critical Design Objects, participants will examine how these elements reinforce dominant narratives of identity, gender, and power in design and collaboratively develop strategies to challenge the status quo and foster inclusivity. Led by a seasoned color designer with over 12 years of experience in the design industry, the course provides practical expertise in crafting overarching color directions and visual narratives and applying color across products like footwear, apparel, and textiles. This extensive industry knowledge will guide participants in developing creative strategies that foster equity and challenge entrenched conventions. Participants will be inspired to design beyond binary systems by unpacking the history of gendered color in Western design cultures, learning about norm-critical design methodologies, and unpacking reductive color design practices like "Pink it and Shrink it." Working in groups, they will analyze the interplay of color, aesthetic cues, and gender in everyday objects and create visual mockups of product aesthetics, including color palettes, finishes, materials, embellishments, and design lines. Participants will use these visual mockups to propose innovative approaches that subvert traditional gender norms or promote inclusive gender aesthetics. By connecting historical and cultural shifts in color meanings with broader design practices, attendees will better understand color and design as a language of power and resistance. This course is ideal for designers, researchers, and educators seeking to integrate critical cultural insights into their practices. Participants will leave equipped to reimagine visual design narratives and create impactful, inclusive, and culturally relevant surface design solutions.

Kel Jackson is a Design Research PhD candidate at the Royal College of Art and a seasoned color designer with over 12 years of experience in the apparel and footwear industry. Their work spans diverse roles, including creating overarching color direction, collaborating with chemists to develop innovative color recipes, and leading visual storytelling to apply color across products such as footwear, apparel, and textiles. As a color design consultant, Kel partners with teams to develop sustainability-focused solutions for their design programs. Kel's doctoral research critically examines gender bias in the design process, focusing on how sneaker color design reinforces societal norms and marginalizes feminine and genderqueer identities. Through norm-critical design approaches, they aim to empower designers to reimagine narratives of power and resistance, fostering equity and inclusivity in the design industry. Kel has shared their expertise in talks on color and design at institutions such as the Royal College of Art, the University of Sussex, and the "AIC 2023" International Color Association Conference.

Session 3 - Tuesday,  June 17

4:15- 5:45

Comunicating Color Using ICC Profiles
Max Derhak

ICC profiles are often used to communicate color using cameras, printers, displays, and computers. This course will be about basics of ICC color management with a sneak preview into iccMAX for advanced color management.

Design Stories: How Color Shapes Narrative
Ellen Divers

Every design tells a story, and color is one of its most powerful storytellers. But how does color shape that narrative, whether it takes the center stage or plays a supporting role? This short course explores the forces of nature which initially shaped our relationship to color, and how trends, technology and personalization influence the way we communicate with it today. Using examples from a range media we will dive into the psychological and cultural meanings of color, using models drawn from neuroaesthetics and the Value-Chroma Paradigm to understand how color influences narrative. Participants will have opportunity to apply these concepts as they tell stories, and also interpret them, using color.

Color Psychology 101 (CANCELLED)
Steven Bleicher

We were informed on April 23 of the passing of Steven Bleicher. We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. A noted and accomplished member of the design education field has been lost, and we will miss him at our conference in June.

This course is an introduction to color psychology. It will examine how color influences our daily lives and industry. It will begin with an introduction to exactly what color psychology and its history including why it matters to design professionals and today's contemporary culture. Topics will include a history of color psychology, its influence on food, appetite, size, interiors and luxury items such as perfume, cars and fashion. This course will answer questions including how religion has influenced our view of color and how companies and the color of their products continue to impact our selection and use. The lecture will be highly visual, engaging the audience. It will last for 70 minutes with about 20 minutes for audience questions and personal experiences.

Steven Bleicher is a tenured professor of visual arts at Coastal Carolina University. He is an accomplished artist. His artwork is included in many major collections and is widely exhibited both nationally and internationally in numerous solo and group exhibitions. Bleicher collaborated as the color specialist on Man and Nature in Rhapsody of Light, a permanent public art installation at the Water Cube in Beijing. The work combines traditional Chinese philosophy with contemporary aesthetics and digital technology. In April 2023, the third edition of Bleicher's book,ｬ Contemporary Color: Theory and Use,ｬ was published by Routledge Press. It is a comprehensive text on color, and focuses on digital color and its relationship to other new technologies. Other chapters include color psychology, perception and dimensional aspects of color. He is currently writing a new book on color psychology in art and design. Bleicher is regularly sought after as an expert witness on issues of color use and copywrite and trademark infringement. Bleicher often provides interdisciplinary lectures on color psychology, as a part of this, he has been invited to numerous colleges and universities to speak and was a artist and visiting professor at the Nanjing Art Institute.

Introduction to the Fischer Universal Color Design System
William Fischer

Designer's will learn how to use the Fischer Universal Color Design System to create concurrently rich color experiences for persons with nearly every vision-ability, both typical and deficient. Roughly 50% of the population will experience a vision deficiency at some point in their life. This includes color-blindness, light and scotopic sensitivity, cataracts, glaucoma, macular generation, and uncorrectable low vision. And in addition, external sources, such as dim room lighting and digital screen glare that are routinely experienced by all of us. By integrating the Fischer Universal Color System into their workflow, designers working in the digital, print, product, and built environment arenas can increase market share, meet state and federal accessibility guidelines, increase employment opportunities for vision deficient persons, and practice truly inclusive color design, while also and simultaneously optimizing color experiences for the typically-sighted population. Attendees will receive a free, personal-use, digital course pack that includes instructional videos, case studies, and downloadable tools. In-class activities will include an overview of the Fischer Universal Color Design System, case studies demonstrating its application, and real-time analysis and adjustment of design projects that attendees can opt to bring to the session (note: bringing a project for analysis is strictly optional)(attendees wishing to submit a project for a real-time analysis can email either a file or a link to the project to Bill_Fischer@i-see-u.info prior to class).