Welcome to our Summer issue.
Most of us can remember at least one, if not 100, moments of colour inspiration. A sense of joy at the range of hues in a box of crayons, pencils or paints; the appeal of swatch cards, colour chips or sample books; marvelling at the infinity of tones in a flower or a sunset; our first encounter with the work of Anni Albers, Mark Rothko or Bridget Riley. There are many, many more such moments, of course. As the artist Sonia Delaunay said: “One who knows how to appreciate colour relationships, the influence of one colour with another, their contrasts and dissonances, is promised an infinite variety of images.”
Our summer issue offers plenty of insights into the value of this important message. When tasked with rebranding GF Smith, whose luxury papers come in 55 hues, design team TEMPLO knew that colour would have to take centre stage (page 90). Their innovative design, featuring high-contrast colours and typography with a 3D effect, has caused consternation in some quarters, but is a lively expression of the company’s innovative, forward-looking mindset.
At The Hoxton hotel in Florence (page 178), which takes its inspiration from its Renaissance surroundings as well as the postmodern work of the Memphis Group, colour gives two wildly different buildings their own identities while anchoring them as a whole. Plaster pink, terracotta, sage green and cream echo the shades of ancient architecture, while also lending themselves to contemporary colour blocking and graphic patterns.
The Kapitza sisters (page 50), who have designed our cover, employ colour and patterns as a wayfinding device in their projects to support those who might find conventional signage a challenge. One of Kapitza’s installations will be on show at Clerkenwell Design Week (20-22 May), which has become a fixture on the creative calendar.
Held in and around London EC1 – a hub for architects and creative businesses – the programme of talks, installations, exhibitions and brand showcases, along with plenty of parties and fringe events, affords countless chances to share a moment with like-minded creatives. We hope to see you there.
Read the new issue of OnOffice 171, Summer 2025, here.
