Colour and the motor car

This heartbeat is made up from a vast number of influences, such as the history and culture of the company, its place in the hierarchy of motor vehicles, the way in which it is perceived by the world, the message conveyed by both the physical shape and its dynamic performance, the markets in which it will be sold, the lifestyle of the potential buyers, the topography in which it will be used, the nature and intensity of light in those markets, the size of the vehicle and the fullness of curvature of its panels.

There is generally no need for the colour designer to verbalise these factors, they are part of a mental process which evolves as experience increases. In addition, there are other factors less esoteric but nonetheless important in colour design. The designer must keep abreast of the technical developments and be aware of the risks and opportunities of developing new ideas.