Understanding Color: An Introduction for Designers

You’ll never look at the world — or your work — the same way again. Understanding Color An Introduction for Designers Linda Holtzschue If you want to achieve eye-catching color combinations to make products come alive, says Linda Holtzschue, you can’t rely solely on elaborate color systems or put all your faith in emotional, intuitive approaches to color. In Understanding Color, this longtime instructor and practicing interior designer shows how you can mix the best ideas of both schools of thought and use color more freely, comfortably, and creatively than ever before. This exciting, user-friendly guide presents basic color concepts in a straightforward, easy-to-follow way. It enables you to see color in a whole new light, gain a working grasp of the basic color vocabulary as well as color theory, and master the art of achieving color effects, control, and harmony—with the help of many vivid examples and practical exercises drawn from a wide range of design professions. Whatever your design job, whatever your level of experience, you’ll want to learn what Understanding Color has to say about:

• how light sources affect color rendition and how to manipulate light to achieve the best color effects
• how to go beyond a mere technical familiarity with the computer and use it to maximize the impact of color in your work
• how to avoid predictable and potentially costly color mistakes that even veteran designers are prone to make
• how to resolve the typical color-related problems confronted by design professionals

Abundantly illustrated, including 24 full-color plates, Understanding Color gives you the practical tools to develop an almost limitless range of effective color combinations so that you can make even dull products more marketable and better products uniquely compelling.

About the Author Linda Holtzschue lives and works in New York City, where she maintains a private interior design practice and teaches at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Previously she taught at Parsons School of Design, where she also served as an Assistant Dean. Ms. Holtzschue’s interior design practice has included a private pediatric dental clinic, a medical library for King’s County Hospital, offices at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and space planning for the South Street Seaport Museum. Her renovation of a Frank Lloyd Wright residence for private clients was featured in the New York Times Magazine.