Color is in Fashion

Color is in fashion. It has defined recent product launches, like Apple Computer’s mini iPod, and it has influenced product design and new building materials and technologies. But its ubiquity seems most apparent in the architectural lighting arena. It is everywhere, on building façades, in ceiling coves, as a downlight or a wallwash, as a detail or the primary light source. But is this thoughtful design-or just a gimmick resulting from available product technology and a culture that increasingly appreciates ‘Bling Bling,’ tasteful or not? What role is color and color illumination playing in contemporary design, and is this for better or worse?