The Ethical Colour Report

INSIGHTS & EDITORIAL

The Ethical Colour Report was co-researched and written by Stories of Design’s Sarah Conway as part of a long-term collaboration with Laura Perryman for Colour of Saying
Graphic Design by Laura Boast, Conscious Made
Photography by Sara Hibbert

Ethical Colour is an ongoing research project by the London-based design studio Colour of Saying that explores how colour choices can help restore ecological balance. The Ethical Colour Report examines climate-positive colour sources and processes throughout a product's lifecycle and discusses how responsible choices can be mapped to circular frameworks. The project's goal is to develop a toolkit for ethical colour-in-design decision-making and to provide resources for designers and creatives.

Ethical Colour Trend Report

• Ethical Colour Themes & Issues

• An Atlas of Ethical Hues

• 8 Colour-in-Design Directions

• 4 Activist Colour Recipes

• A Guide to Ethical Colour Decision Making

• Circular Model Guides and Tool

• Emerging (CMF) Design Concepts

• A Directory of Colour Sources and Resources

• A Lexicon for Ethical Colour

• Industry Takeaways

“We need to establish a healthier relationship with colour.

“The outcome of ongoing research into climate-positive colour sources and processes, this report is not just about making fashion ‘sustainable’ or rewilding textiles but recognising that all industries are involved in a complex system in need of reform.”

“ethical colour: colour sources and processes chosen responsibly to eliminate human and ecological harm and to promote wellbeing, repair and regeneration.”

- a new definition devised for The Ethical Colour Report

Ethical colour in action. What is it? How is it achieved? How can I apply it?
In one of eight colour profiles, Jess Redgrave extracts colour and fibres from sunflowers to create Climafibre.

From global themes and emerging practices to simple and activating colour recipes.

“Circular design is a new name for a system we have always intuitively known..

One of eight circular models - colour reclaimed from denim by Studio Sarmite

“When our colours and materials are healthy and healing, when their stories are rich and inspiring, and when they combine human ingenuity with living systems understanding, they can help us restore ecological balance and make hope active.”