Colourful Language MAJOR PROJECT REPORT Eleanor Maclure Colourful Language LONDON COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION MA GRAPHIC DESIGN PART TIME PERSONAL TUTOR: JOHN BATESON MAJOR PROJECT REPORT Eleanor Maclure Acknowledgments I would like to thank my personal tutor John, and all the other tutors and fellow students on MA Graphic Design at London College of Communication for their advice and encouragement, it has been much appreciated. I would also like to say a special thanks to Richard Ashworth, Karen Skorski and Lisa Roberts at the Society of Dyers and Colourists for their time, expertise and opinions and to Simon Tiutwein, David Batchelor, Patrick Baty, Rob and Nick Carter, Karen Haller, Janet Best and Alan Dye for allowing me to interview them for this project. Also to Colin Jones and everyone at Blindness In Greenwich for their contributions and openness in discussing their experiences of colour. I would also like to acknowledge everyone who participated in the survey for this project, your contributions have helped to demonstrate the sheer variety in the way we describe colours, making the outcome of the project a viable proposition. I am also eternally grateful to Chris Duke and the print team at Blissetts for their endeavours to produce all the printed material for this project on time, to a tight budget. Finally, thanks to Andrew and my family for their support and understanding over the last two years and everyone else who has given their time or expertise to my research, without which this project would not have been possible. Contents 01 Introduction 06 Development of Outputs 02 Proposal Outline 07 Evaluation 2.1 Field of Study 7.1 Evaluation of Methodology 2.2 Focus 7.2 Evaluation of Outcome 2.3 Research Question 7.3 Critical Reflection 2.4 Project Aims 7.4 Personal Reflection 2.5 Relationship to Design Practise 2.6 Audience 08 Conclusion 2.7 Validity 03 Context List of Illustrations 3.1 The Physics of Colour References 3.2 The Biology of Colour Perception 3.3 Theories of Colour Further Reading 3.4 Colour and Language 3.5 Colour Naming Appendices A-C 04 Key Concepts 05 Research Methodologies 5.1 Focus 1 5.1.1 Essays on Colour 5.1.2 Strooping the Colour 5.1.3 Colour my Words 5.1.4 When Green is Not Green 5.1.5 Colour by Numbers 5.2 Focus 2 5.2.1 Searching for the Rainbow 5.2.2 Transforming the Rainbow 5.2.3 Looking for Hue 5.2.4 Say What You See 5.2.5 Deconstructing the Rainbow 5.3 Focus 3 5.3.1 Quantitative Research 5.3.2 Qualitative Research Report Aims This report aims to deliver an informative and comprehensive account and analysis of the research, methodologies and outcomes of Colourful Language, the investigation submitted as the Major Project for my MA Graphic Design, at London College of Communication. Colour and language, the subjects of this investigation are both vast fields of study, with overlaps into a number of other areas. Ample context has been provided in this report as a reflection of the size of the subject area and the quantity of research undertaken to support the project overall. The framework of the investigation is established through the inclusion of key points, concepts and considerations from the original proposal for the project. This should allow the reader to gain a full understanding of the background, purpose and aims of the research. The various research methodologies employed throughout the project are described in detail and evaluated to give both an account and analysis of the progress of the project, as is the development of the design outcomes that have subsequently resulted from the research. It is intended that this document synthesise and rationalize the concepts that inform, support and have developed at a result of the project. The structure and content of the report aims to unite the numerous components of this investigation and present the project as a cohesive and reasoned body of work with a considered conclusion. Introduction “The philosopher Wittgenstein famously asked ‘How do I know that this color is red?—It would be an answer to say: I have learnt English’”. (Batchelor, 2000 pp.91) MAJOR PROJECT REPORT Introduction “The philosopher Wittgenstein famously asked ‘How do These questions and others are but some of the issues I know that this color is red?—It would be an answer to that afflict the way we use language to describe say: I have learnt English.’” (Batchelor, 2000 pp.91) and define our experience of colour. The system is complicated further, in that there are no standards But how do we know what is red, or blue or green? of individual colour perception. Colours vary with How does our understanding of these colours relate to context, surface texture and viewing conditions, while how we label them? And how well do our colour names colour terms are imprecise, have no chromatic content reflect the colours we are trying to identify? in themselves and there is no way of knowing that my notion of a particular hue is the same as anyone We all use colour names to describe things in everyday else’s. Trying to devise a system based on language, to life, whether to describe someone’s appearance, give accurately define colours is an impossible task. directions, or decipher colour-coded information. But how well do we use these terms? How consistent and Despite this we use language to reference colour all precise are we when it comes to defining what is claret, the time, we have too. Often there is no other available maroon or burgundy? Would we feel confident asserting means of referring to the particular hue we are trying that something was beige rather than taupe? Do we to describe. That the language system we use to talk know the difference between lilac and lavender? Is there about colour is inherently flawed, is all the more reason a real difference? why it should be studied and analysed to further our understanding. How effectively can this aspect of our communication function, when our own understanding of colour terms is insufficient or our language itself is lacking the precise descriptions we are grasping for? Proposal Outline MAJOR PROJECT REPORT Project Outline This section outlines key points from the original proposal submitted for this project. It details the parameters and frames of reference established for the investigation. 2.1 FIELD OF STUDY 2.2 FOCUS The subject of this investigation unites two independent Within the fields of study previously outlined, the focus and largely unrelated fields of study: colour theory of this investigation is defined as Colour Naming. It can and linguistics. It could more accurately be described be described as the process by which we equate the as being situated where these two areas intersect, the colours we perceive through our visual sensory system marriage of colour and language. with how we identify them using our language system. It is concerned with the body of colour terms that exist in Both of these areas have long histories and incorporate English, their relationships to each other, their real world many concepts and theories. Colour theory alone application and the problems that can occur when using bridges a number of subjects from: physics and language to identify and describe colours. optics, to the visual arts, to biology and neuroscience. Linguistics is also a substantial field of study, so in order to contain the scope of the research I have concentrated my attention only on the concepts that are particularly relevant to the research question. That both fields have well-established bodies of knowledge has validated my own investigation and provided a wealth of information with which to support it. I have also elected to focus this research on English colour names only. Although colour naming across different language systems is a rich area of study, it is a whole subject in itself and too extensive to investigate in any detail as it raises problems of translation and cross- cultural sensitivity. To further define the areas of interest, within colour theory I will specifically be concerned with colour perception and semiotics, with regards to linguistics. 2.3 RESEARCH QUESTION 2.4 PROJECT AIMS The research question originally stated in the proposal The fundamental aim of this research project is to for this project was: contribute to the understanding of how language is used to express colour, through observations, quantitative research, analysis and particularly visual HOW WE TALK ABOUT COLOUR: representation. Observing the way we use language to describe The problems of using language to describe colour has colours. been commented on by a number of writers, described in more detail in the Context section of this report. Colour stretches the limits of our descriptive abilities This question has stood throughout the project but can and consequently our language. be expanded and clarified as focussing on the names of colours and in the following ways: While there are evidently a number of difficulties with colour and language, this project has never set out 1. The names of colours: Analysis of the body of to solve them. Several thousand years of philosophy words used to describe colour, how they can be have failed to produce an adequate theory or model categorised, their origins, their meanings. of colour and some aspects of the problem of the relationship between colour and language are 2. The names of colours: how do they visually relate theoretically impossible to solve, due to the nature of to each other. For example how does red relate to verbal language itself.