05/28/2015 - Themed text "Colour in the office": The more colour the better

Colours play an important role in our lives. They can have a positive effect on mind and body and thus influence our well-being. If colours and forms interact harmoniously, the result is inspiring. Used correctly, they can even increase the level of positive energy in the workplace.

Offenhausen, May 2015. Having said that, the use of colours in design circles is a matter of taste and there are no set rules. But how is it that we perceive these colours? After all, the physical world is allegedly colourless.

The answer is simple ‒ through light. A light source emits rays of energy which are partly absorbed when they fall on different materials. The rays of light which are reflected reach our eyes as colour stimuli and are then projected onto our retinas. Energy pulses from our eyes are then transmitted via our nervous system to our brains where colours are actually perceived.

The human eye is extremely sensitive to eight different colours. These colours ‒ blue, green, red, cyan, yellow, magenta, white and black ‒ are regarded as the cornerstones of our perception of colour. When it comes to interior design, colours are always perceived as pleasant when they interact harmoniously with the materials used. If used sensibly, colours reinforce design statements both in emotional and functional terms. Blue for example is said to encourage communication, objectivity and the precision of thoughts. Red has an invigorating, stimulating effect; it increases our self-esteem and makes us more vigorous and dynamic. In contrast, green is believed to boost our senses and concentration, encourage level-headedness and improve our powers of judgement.
For a long time now, areas of life such as living and working which used to be strictly separate have been merging into a new unit. The rise of modern communication media has played a particularly important role here. On the outside, this development is reflected in the fact that office rooms are becoming much more homely and thus more colourful. Whether it be cosy lounge corners or comfortable areas for recreation, the furniture in modern offices is now as flexible as the people working in them. Furniture is increasingly becoming part of the office structure and office architecture.

"Corporate architecture" also creates identity. Key corporate colours are transferred to the furniture and help to attract attention. From subtle natural shades to powerful colour highlights and with contrasting combinations of colours or materials – the aim is to deliberately inspire us. A modern working environment should also encourage creativity and well-being. When used correctly, colours and colour highlights motivate us and increase the level of positive energy in the workplace. And if an employee is actively involved in choosing the colour scheme for their workstation, this underlines the positive effect and gives the workstation a personal touch.

For years now, the Dauphin HumanDesign Group (DHDG) has intelligently used colours, materials and forms to give offices an unmistakable look, to contribute towards a positive working and room environment and to bring a breath of fresh air to offices and living areas through colour. In order to achieve this, the colour experts at the DHDG combine scientific findings with the latest colour trends. At the same time, they take into account current and future predictions from architecture, fashion, design and automobiles ‒ four areas with mutual influence.