Critical Discourse series brings conversation about color trends, impacts

ArtPrize Seven continues its tradition of "events within an event," with the Critical Discourse series. The series offers opportunities to speak with experts, create conversation and learn a thing or two. "Future Color/Design Trends: Innovation and Impact" pairs ArtPrize with Pantone to discuss what drives color trends, why they matter and where they are going. Pantone is the world-renowned authority on color and color selection, and X-Rite Pantone is a leadership sponsor of this year’s ArtPrize.

Scheduled for Thursday, October 1 at 7 p.m. at the ArtPrize HUB (41 Sheldon Boulevard SE), this session is sure to draw those who are inspired by color or understand the impact a room’s hue can have on your mood. Those who are looking to learn more about how color can make or break a final product, even if it’s just your reupholstered dining room chairs, would enjoy this session.

Grand Rapidian Jim Winslow, a graphic designer for the last 30 years, has extensive experience working with Pantone.

“Pantone offered standardization for color," says Winslow. "They are the leader and authority on color because they’ve presented us a way to categorize and define color.”

The Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute™, Leatrice Eiseman, will share her expertise during this Critical Discourse session. A color specialist and consultant, she has written nine books on the subject and worked with companies large and small to make the right decisions for their branding and environment. Her background is in psychology, which may seem an odd choice for a color consultant, but makes perfect sense. “...It gave me the rationale for why people love (or hate) certain colors. The subject always engages people and often allows them to explore their own creativity,” explains Eiseman in a 2013 modcloth.com interview.

Annually, Pantone picks a color of the year, which has essentially become a self-fulling prophecy. Graphic designers, fashionistas, furniture makers and more grasp onto its hue, and all of a sudden you can expect to see everything from a beanbag to your next new strapless dress in that shade. 

Still, color is deeper than then next best thing.

“[Color] is all encompassing. It’s the products around us, it’s about the fashion we are wearing and it’s about the furniture we buy. It’s about trends and trend making but color also invokes a mode. There’s a lot of psychological things tied up in color selection,” says Winslow. Indeed, color is a reflection of ourselves and our society, and something that increases our awareness of our surroundings.

Pantone, of course, is a natural fit for ArtPrize, and attending this Critical Discourse event will help make your ArtPrize experience richer and more engaging. Color is everywhere. It will catch your eye from the shop of a window, that flash of yellow or blue or red that draws you into a painting. Or maybe it’s a black and white portrait that speaks to your emotions. 

Listen to Eiseman and find out what color trends and palettes will shape the future. Find out the meaning and relevance behind your color selection. Or just find out what color to finally paint your dining room.