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From baby-blue ball pits to a rosy-hued dance floor, the Color Factory NYC offers immersive color experiences. STIR® talked to the museum’s founder to learn how the interactive installations can change clients’, designers’ and architects’ perceptions of color.
By Molly Burke
Sometimes, inspiration for a client project sneaks in quietly; other times, that inspiration arrives so loud and proud that you can’t turn away. Enter the Color Factory NYC. This experimental art exhibit is filled with installations that boldly celebrate color in the built environment — the perfect place for designers and architects to immerse themselves for some serious creative stimuli. Sherwin-Williams, Color Factory's exclusive paint partner, provided an expansive palette of colors to bring the installations to life.
Launched by blogger Jordan Ferney of “Oh Happy Day!,” Color Factory brings together artists, creatives and makers to conceptualize and collaborate on participatory installations. Its August 2017 debut in San Francisco was intended to be a month-long run, but it unexpectedly flourished for another eight sold-out months, with over 170,000 visitors.
Because of the immense popularity of the San Francisco location, they opened Color Factory NYC in August 2018. The new 20,000-square-foot space in SoHo, New York City, features new palettes, new installations and a new roster of collaborators who tell unique color stories.
STIR sat down with Ferney to learn how this new installation can change the way we see and experience color.
STIR: What’s the mission of the Color Factory?
Jordan Ferney (JF): At the beginning, there wasn't a clear mission; we were just trying to make an art project with friends. But now the mission is to create human connection and joy through color.
“Complementary Compliments,” by Christine Wong Yap. In this project, you are invited to exercise your creativity with two primary ingredients: a guiding worksheet and a human connection.
STIR: How have you seen the Color Factory change people’s perceptions of color in the built environment?
JF: There aren't very many opportunities to experience "new" things, especially as adults. I love seeing people be surprised or delighted when they are experiencing the Color Factory for the first time.
STIR: It seems as if the Color Factory proves that color can have a kinetic reaction with people — they want to reach out and touch color, and interact with it. Why?
JF: I can't speak for anyone else. But I know that when I'm walking down the street and see the colors around the city, they make me happier. I'm drawn to them.
“Sing Me High / Sing Me Low / Bring Me Back / Let Me Go,” by Lakwena & Abimaro. Pick up a mallet, play the chimes, and listen for the call and response between the notes. Take in the vibration of the words and colors as they travel high and low.
STIR: What do you think an interior designer or architect can take away from a visit to the Color Factory?
JF: We tried to make Color Factory layered. So, there are things a 5-year-old child would get out of it, but there are also concepts an adult would find compelling — it brings out a sense of play in any age. We also chose the color of certain installations for specific reasons. For instance, we chose the color of the ball pit to be a calming, therapeutic sky blue. These types of color choices could definitely be applied to an interior design situation.
“Into the Blue,” illustrations by Tamara Shopsin. Shopsin’s graphics are strewn throughout the room — some are easy to spot, some are covert and others require intrepid wading through the ball pit to get a closer look. It’s worth the hunt. Every graphic has a meaning ... or two!
STIR: Based on your experience, do you think the public is ready for “bigger color” in interior design?
JF: Yes! I'm all for bigger and bolder color! Especially in everyday life! I can’t think of one color we’d never use in a Color Factory installation — we love all colors.
Macaron carousel. Snag a macaron off its colorful carousel as you say “bonjour” to the Color Factory.
Visit the Color Factory NYC for yourself — go to colorfactory.co for ticket sales and exhibit times.
Ready to try out big, bold color in your next client project, à la the Color Factory? Read “Maximalist Design and Color” and “Razzle Dazzle Camouflage Design” for inspiration and ideas.
Our favorite Sherwin-Williams colors used in the Color Factory NYC:
