Colour Flow 2023

Entangled Life

The new Colour Flow 2023 embodies a time of transition. The pandemic has changed our lifestyle and many of our new habits are here to stay. In some aspects, alongside the hurt and grief, the quality of our lives has improved. The pandemic has revealed many systemic weaknesses. It is clear that there is a massive task and a responsibility shared by all to fix what is broken in society; it is an opportunity to rethink the fundamental structures of contemporary capitalism and envision a more compassionate future. How did we get to this point and how do we move forward from here? This calls for a world view involving a fresh engagement with the planet. 

The pandemic has shown that we can be better; as people, as streets, as communities. This could be the starting point of master planning for the future based on universal thinking and a new set of priorities. The current situation offers the opportunity to build a healthier, cleaner, more inclusive, just and equitable society.

The siloing of issues such as climate change cannot be separated from societal issues. Look deeply into the crisis itself and organise new environments, ideas and movements. The next age of transition is by no means a predictable one; it is an act of imagination. The major task of our lifetime is to understand who we want to be, what our desired legacy is and what we could be in relation to each other. 

The seismic change we are facing raises significant questions regarding design, materials and colours. Design should be focused on making an impact on people’s lives and should be for everyone, crossing borders and boundaries. Slow down the process of design in order to understand the ways and means of products over time. Find solutions that balance the interplay between design, production and consumption in a way that is viable for the future. In order to create timely, relevant designs, we need to discard the outdated mindset of reshaping pre-existing products for consumer satisfaction. Instead, we should embrace creativity, while exploring and redefining a design’s purpose.

There is always a transition involved in the evolution of the fabric of society to create a more resilient society. The colours and materials of Colour Flow 2023 reflect this shift. Colour Flow 2023 examines how colours and materials can help to remove barriers between people, boundaries separating indoors and outdoors, the brain and the body, and the physical and digital worlds. The colour stories emphasise our connection with the Earth, with other people and with our own feelings, reflecting the possibilities of the constantly evolving digital world.

Take care!

Oltmans van Niekerk

03/ Culture of Care Colour

03/ Culture of Care Material

04/ Synchrony Colour

04/ Synchrony Material