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SBS Gift Cards make shopping for that handyman easy!	Questions & Answers with Erika Manley Manager, Color Design Studio, ICI Paints Erika Manley has been influential in the design and development of ICI Paints color collateral and color systems including the master palette system and Glidden Color System. She manages a team of designers in the Color Design Studio for ICI Paints North America, headquartered in Strongsville, Ohio. On a recent trip to Alaska, Manley reflected on how color design has evolved, and recent color trends.
Q. What is the #1 advice you give to your clients, contractors or individuals, who are trying to decide on a color scheme? A. I tell people to start a file and put everything that you like into the folder. Then, take it to the paint store or to a professional designer and just talk about what you like and don’t like in color. Before you know it, you’ll be narrowing your choices to a few dominate themes and colors. Q. What else? A. I also advise people to never choose colors in the store. Bring a few options home and look at them on different walls at different times of the day for a week. Lights and shadows can make the same color look completely different. Q. How has color changed over the 30 years you have been involved in the industry? A. It’s changed a lot. For one, color schemes used to be one or two colors and that was it. Now there is a lot more variety and we work with families of colors. The other thing that has really changed is that people want to do it themselves. They are being more innovative and bold with color, and are more willing to try variations such as faux finishes, sponging or other unique approaches. Q. Is it easier to work as a color designer for commercial properties or for a home? A. I have a much easier time assisting a home builder, remodeler or commercial property contractor with choosing color. When you’re picking colors for the masses, it’s easy. It gets a lot tougher when you are dealing with the emotions of a homeowner.	Q. You’re a big believer in the psychology of color, what is that and how does it work? A. Scientific studies have proven that different colors evoke certain feelings in people. I am a big believer that you have to understand the psychology of color in order to choose the right color for a residential or commercial setting. Q. Can you give us some examples? A. Sure, orange is known as friendly and can help to bring out conversation, so that’s why you’ll see shades of the orange family in a lot of conference rooms. Fast food restaurants often use the color red. Psychologically, red inspires people and evokes quickness and action. That’s what fast food restaurants want to be known for, so the red building or red interior colors are all a part of the image. Green is known to be soothing and relaxing and is a popular choice for hospitals and doctor’s offices. They’ve even done studies that show that light blue is relaxing for babies and helps them to sleep. Q. You probably get tired of answering this question, but what are the “hot” colors for 2005? A. There actually are 96 colors that have been chosen by ColourFutures as the palette for 2005. The team predicts color in two ways – Color Families and Color Themes. The color families are a collection of colors that fit into the same hue, such as a collection of reds. A theme is a colour collection that draws on colors from several families that work together to reflect trends in style. A fresh orange was chosen as the color illustrating the essence of 2005. The five lifestyle trends include supernature (teak, bamboo, mango, palm, leather, cocoa and teak browns); new past (ash, raisin, rust and sage); optimism (think bright cartoon colors of blue, purples, orange and reds); masquerade (silks, taffetas, furs, velvets); and, revitalize (fruity orange and lemon and calming blue and aqua).

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SBS Gift Cards make shopping for that handyman easy!

Questions & Answers with Erika Manley Manager, Color Design Studio, ICI Paints

Erika Manley has been influential in the design and development of ICI Paints color collateral and color systems including the master palette system and Glidden Color System. She manages a team of designers in the Color Design Studio for ICI Paints North America, headquartered in Strongsville, Ohio. On a recent trip to Alaska, Manley reflected on how color design has evolved, and recent color trends.

Q. What is the #1 advice you give to your clients, contractors or individuals, who are trying to decide on a color scheme?

A. I tell people to start a file and put everything that you like into the folder. Then, take it to the paint store or to a professional designer and just talk about what you like and don’t like in color. Before you know it, you’ll be narrowing your choices to a few dominate themes and colors.

Q. What else?

A. I also advise people to never choose colors in the store. Bring a few options home and look at them on different walls at different times of the day for a week. Lights and shadows can make the same color look completely different.

Q. How has color changed over the 30 years you have been involved in the industry?

A. It’s changed a lot. For one, color schemes used to be one or two colors and that was it. Now there is a lot more variety and we work with families of colors. The other thing that has really changed is that people want to do it themselves. They are being more innovative and bold with color, and are more willing to try variations such as faux finishes, sponging or other unique approaches.

Q. Is it easier to work as a color designer for commercial properties or for a home?

A. I have a much easier time assisting a home builder, remodeler or commercial property contractor with choosing color. When you’re picking colors for the masses, it’s easy. It gets a lot tougher when you are dealing with the emotions of a homeowner.

Q. You’re a big believer in the psychology of color, what is that and how does it work?

A. Scientific studies have proven that different colors evoke certain feelings in people. I am a big believer that you have to understand the psychology of color in order to choose the right color for a residential or commercial setting.

Q. Can you give us some examples?

A. Sure, orange is known as friendly and can help to bring out conversation, so that’s why you’ll see shades of the orange family in a lot of conference rooms. Fast food restaurants often use the color red. Psychologically, red inspires people and evokes quickness and action. That’s what fast food restaurants want to be known for, so the red building or red interior colors are all a part of the image. Green is known to be soothing and relaxing and is a popular choice for hospitals and doctor’s offices. They’ve even done studies that show that light blue is relaxing for babies and helps them to sleep.

Q. You probably get tired of answering this question, but what are the “hot” colors for 2005?

A. There actually are 96 colors that have been chosen by ColourFutures as the palette for 2005. The team predicts color in two ways – Color Families and Color Themes. The color families are a collection of colors that fit into the same hue, such as a collection of reds. A theme is a colour collection that draws on colors from several families that work together to reflect trends in style. A fresh orange was chosen as the color illustrating the essence of 2005. The five lifestyle trends include supernature (teak, bamboo, mango, palm, leather, cocoa and teak browns); new past (ash, raisin, rust and sage); optimism (think bright cartoon colors of blue, purples, orange and reds); masquerade (silks, taffetas, furs, velvets); and, revitalize (fruity orange and lemon and calming blue and aqua).