Issue 32 | Colour Ecology

“Colour becomes a felt emotion, an experiential and lived experience, and a visceral, powerful tool capable of shaping our collective future.”

Anna Starmer - Luminary Issue 32 - Colour Ecology

What does Colour Ecology mean?

Colour is not just an aesthetic choice, it carries the potential to shape human experience, not only on a personal level but also in how we consider our role within the larger ecosystem. As our understanding of human emotional intelligence advances, designers are now exploring how colour can reflect and influence our emotional states, how it can foster connections to our shared environment, and how it can inform a more sustainable future.

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Photography by Gaia Bonanomi

Colour Ecology is not just about sourcing eco-friendly paints or sustainable pigments; it is about understanding how our use of colour impacts our broader ‘home’ - our environments, the planet, and our communities. The term ‘ecology’ comes from the Greek word ‘oikos’ meaning home, and in the context of colour, it speaks to how colour interacts with the environment and society.

As we reimagine the way we create and use colour and materials, we have an opportunity to contribute to a future where beauty and sustainability coexist. In this future, colour becomes part of the solution, not the problem.

Issue 32 Colour - a softer palette

Nature continues to be our muse at Luminary. Colours are inspired by the world around us; wild swimming in the lake in Zurich inspires a group of deep inky blue-greens, and misty morning walks on the South Downs National Park offer us soft coloured neutral tones.

Beyond the natural world we pinpoint the human-centred lifestyle trends and global shifts that are affecting how we will move toward 2027 and beyond. From architecture to material innovation we showcase how colour trends are shifting to a calmer, softer landscape.

Edible: caramel, rhubarb, lemon puff

Golden tones of honey, beeswax, pollen and caramelised ginger offer us a nostalgic set of joyous hues which are imbued with warmth. Glossy vintage glassware in cocktail colours of Aperol, negroni and pink champagne. Sweet and sour rhubarb jelly and raspberry mousse will delight the taste buds and invoke a life-long devotion to this palette.

Mercurial: violet-blues

Water is the life force of our planet, we celebrate and cherish raincloud grey, lagoon green and aqua haze – the sheer wonder and beauty of every single drop, even the rain is precious. Colour is being increasingly linked to the human emotional landscape, we investigate how these colours can evoke specific emotional responses: calming, energising blues or greens that provoke deeper reflection.

Indulgent: Tyrian purple, crème de cassis

Albert Einstein said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." We aim to create future products that are eternally beautiful and sustainably sound.

To indulge is to give in to a desire, colours are linked to sensory pleasures and delights: rich, theatrical hues like iris and plum, together with antique mauve. We’ve created a palette of colours worthy of Queen Cleopatra herself, including the ancient Tyrian purple she used to dye her sails.

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Luminary Issue 32 Colour Ecology

Luminary Issue 32 - Colour Ecology

Luminary contains over 100 pages of inspiration and 60 hand dyed textile colour swatches outlining the key future colours. Luminary Clients receive a full digital library of colour palettes and original images plus the printed book and crafted colour tools.

Get in touch to book a free 30 minute presentation here