Most colorblind people with color vision deficiency can see color but have trouble distinguishing several colors. They often accept two colors as a match, while people with normal color vision see them as very different colors. Choosing the right color combinations can avoid confusion. Kukka is a Dutch textile and surface design studio focusing on experimental color and material research.
The Chromarama colour study is an artistic search for an optimal colour selection. Through various interviews with colour blinds, it became clear that they experience all kinds of inconveniences in daily life when it comes to seeing, naming and choosing or combining colors. – Kukka
By analyzing works of art by well-known color masters, such as Josef Albers, Henri Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, or Mark Rothko, it was examined whether they have a natural feeling for choosing colors and contrasts that color blind people well perceive. In general, the artworks did not lose their essence, but some colors turned into shades of gray and were indistinguishable from each other and some shapes.
For most of us, color is a prominent part of our visual perception. Yet 1 in 12 men and 1 in 200 women have some form of color blindness. This equates to 1 person in every class and 300 million people worldwide. Color blindness differs from person to person, and there are different types of color blindness. The Chromarama design research visualizes how people with reduced color vision see and experience color by designing textiles from a colorblind perspective.
Within the design field and design education, there is little knowledge and attention for people with a reduced ability to distinguish colors from each other. Guidelines have been drawn up for functional design, such as maps, signage, and software, but there is still much to improve.
Impaired color vision is rarely taken into account in the aesthetic or decorative use of color. With Chromarama, Kukka contributes to a (design) world, in which there is room for valuable experiences of people with color vision deficiency.
Five jacquard woven tapestries are available; they are designed for red/green and blue color blindness.
