Welcome to the Colour Literacy Project
The Colour Literacy Project is a 21st century educational initiative that promotes colour as a meta-discipline. Our mission is to strengthen the bridges between the sciences, arts, design and humanities in order to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.
Fluency with the language of colour sharpens our visual intelligence, expands our perceptions, and enhances our ability to communicate.
Colour literacy is not just for artists and scientists — it’s for everyone.
What is Colour Literacy?
Colour literacy is the ability to understand, describe, and consciously use colour in daily life, art, design, communications and across industries. In the 21st century, colour literacy goes beyond simply naming colours, involving an understanding of how light, context, and culture affect how we perceive and experience color.
Who Are We?
We are a group of colour educators and practitioners, spread across the globe. We come from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, and are united in our passion for colour. Check out our Project team & consultants, and our tenets and FAQ which describe our philosophy and approach to colour education.
What’s new on our website?
Exercise Pathways
We have developed new pathways to explore our exercises. Our Jump Start Pathway gives you a quick intro to open your eyes to colour. Our ABC Pathway explores colour fundamentals clustered around our cornerstones, and is being beta-tested in 2026.
Fundamentals
We have identified ten fundamental colour concepts, for a universal foundation in colour literacy.
FORUM #14
Colour Matters: How Colour Shapes Experience beyond Theory
Domicele Jonauskaite, Verena M. Schindler, Juan Serra & Ignacio Cabodevilla. Thanks to our speakers for a captivating event!
Click here to access the recording.
Updated Book Lists
From our Top-picks to Deep-dives about colour, we have updated our recommended books section. You will find books for kids, teachers and everyone curious about colour.
What Do We Do?
Design meta-disciplinary exercises about colour
The heart of our hands-on, experiential colour curriculum combines core colour concepts from the sciences, the arts, and the humanities.
Correct common misconceptions about colours
Our knowledge about colour is constantly evolving. Due to a lack of awareness of current colour research, or an oversimplified view of colour, several misconceptions about colour are very common.
Provide supporting background materials for teachers
We have developed various readings on colour fundamentals, designed to support teachers in bringing colour ideas to the classroom.
Connect colour educators with our partners network
We are creating a dynamic network of colour educators at all levels, where we meet to discuss our teaching methods and experiences at round tables.
Develop classroom resources for teachers
Our exercises include lesson plans, handouts, slide decks and links to other supplies. Our materials are designed to be easily adapted to the classroom.
Organize & host interdisciplinary colour literacy forums
The Colour Literacy Forum is a virtual platform featuring presentations and interactive conversations focused on updating and expanding 21st century colour education.
Join us!
If you are interested in helping revitalize colour education worldwide, we are looking for educators to test and provide feedback on our exercises and curriculum. To find out more, reach out to us using the CONTACT link below.
Please use the following subject line:
Subject: Partners Network
““In the end, learning the language of color is really about learning to see.””
