Human beings can see over 16 million different colors all derived from the 7 hues from the rainbow by either mixing them together or adding black, white, and gray. Color has a way of uniting our senses and we respond to color based upon different principles of our makeup. Did you know that we respond to color in (3) different ways? The first is INNATE - or what has been with us since the dawn of time that is in our DNA. For example, color is a universal language and globally the human race all have blue skies, brown earth, green foliage and we relate our senses to nature. Being organic ourselves it is something we naturally do! Second, is LEARNED. Take food for example. We know just what color that the perfect ripe banana is when we eat it. If it isn't that golden yellow, then it may not be ripe and have some green left to it and it will taste bitter. If it has brown spots, then we know it will more than likely be over ripe and mushy. We taste with our eyes from what we have learned. The Third way is CULTURAL. Color is sensitive of culture and customs and traditions, and meanings of variety of nations and understandings. For instance in western culture, we typically associate a bride's wedding dress to be white to symbolize purity and new birth for the married couple...and customary funeral attire is black, showing a sign a grief and death for the lost loved one. In Korea, it is the exact opposite, white is for funerals, and black is for wedding attire for the bride! It's so important as designers and color canvassers to understand our clients and our needs for designing a space with functional aspects based on who is actually occupying the space. The incorrect researched color can be catastrophic for the design and offend or backfire for the intent. Stay tuned for more blogs on functional color, color and the senses, and psychological and physiological aspects of how color affects mind, body, and emotion for wellness in design. #functionalcolor, # functionalcolorsolutions