Fiestaware (Fiesta® Dinnerware) has been brightening up dinner tables since they first introduced their color saturated dinnerware, during the drab days of the depression. Created by the Homer Laughlin China Company of Newell, West Virginia, since 1936 (with a hiatus from 1973 to 1985), Fiestaware was started "with the intent of giving people who were having a real miserable time something that wasn't expensive, that could brighten up their table, make their live a little cheerier," says president Joe Wells III in an quote from a recent article in the Oregonian, and they did it using color.

Fiestaware's signature solid colored Art Deco style was designed by Frederick Hurten Rhead, and first launched in a brilliant red.

bitchcakesny

Today, rare pieces and colors can be worth thousands, like the covered onion soup bowl in turquoise which was only produced for one year in 1973, which is valued at $8,000.

Fiestaware has bee produced in 40 colors with at least one new shade being added each year since 2000. The latest color was inspired by Michelle Obama's inauguration dress, a yellow-green hue named lemongrass.

We all have seen hints of the 80's sprinkled here and there throughout the design world, right? With the 80's in mind, I had to go with pink and black, and not just any pinks, but rich, bold pinks.

I must admit that I have been watching commercials from this totally rad decade and pretty much miss how fun and bold everything was. So, here are the
colors black and pink used in home decor items.

What do you think?

agate platters, crayon pen, luminary, vase, camera, clothespin, pillow,  pet feeder, chair

I have been inspired by all of the grays and greens that I have been seeing an awful lot of lately, and felt that it would be suitable to dedicate a post to the fabulous duo. I have mentioned before that green is one of my absolute favorite colors, so there is another excuse. As in the examples shown, a soft to medium green against a soft or charcoal gray works wonderfully together, producing a very soothing and hip feel.

Do you like green and gray together?

hair, gator rug, aloe, owl pillow, bowl, vase, green lamp, little prince lamp, striped pillow

A selection of recent coffee packaging designs and their recurring color trends.

Yellow is warm, fresh and summer-y, as is the color white. The two can be strong and should probably be used sparingly.  Yellow can irritate little ones when overused, which is not a good thing (I find it to be quiet interesting that when I'm sick I do not like seeing the color yellow). I love white as well as yellow, but I would go crazy if I had to view it in enormous doses on a daily basis. It is good to keep this in mind, and if you feel as though you can't get enough, and can handle an overwhelming amount of yellow, then have fun.

What do you think of the two colors, and how do they affect you?

art, pillow, hook, sofa, pie dish, soap, egg, plate

Purple can either be masculine or feminine, and that is what I love about this color. It is rich, vibrant and is also associated with royalty. Though the color may be a bit to much for some, it can be toned down with neutral tones and when used in a softer shade with carrying grey tones. What are your opinions on shades
of purple?

napkins, colander, glass, placemat, pillow, bouquet, shade, votive, boxes, paint

Here's a selection of great infographics found over at Infographics News and Francesco Mugnai. Some may look familiar, as many have been very popular and made their way around the web in last year, but they're all examples of good color use. The color palettes are consistent throughout the graphics without making things unnecessarily complicated with palettes that strain the eyes or make use of too many colors.

50 Years of Space Exploration

Link

How Do You Want Your Coffee?

Link
A classic infographic.

"Browns are cool here, reds, yellows, green, khaki. Pink. Purple. Blue. White. Teal. Seriously, all colors belong in this group."

Palettes from the COLOURlovers' group Earthy Luvers.

Since Pantone recently selected their color of the year, Mimosa, and their spring fashion color predictions have been out for a while, i thought it was time to have a look at what their predictions looked like and check in with the current trends here at COLOURlovers.

While it's hard to say exactly what will be the most popular colors and palettes here on COLOURlovers come spring, since things change so fluidly and change is influenced on a daily basis, it is safe to say that together as a community we have a huge impact on which colors and palettes will appear in art and on the web in the future. As each of us shares our love for color we inspire each other and those who are looking to create new meaning in their work and lives through the use of color. So keep sharing the color love and continue to look forward to whatever comes next.

Mimosa

Pantone recently selected the color for 2009 to be 'Mimosa' :

Mimosa, a warm, engaging yellow. In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow.

Here’s a roundup of the most colorful art, products, websites and such that I’ve come across in the last week.

Art

Christmas by Colour

christmasbycolour.co.uk; buy

A not-for-profit exploration into the colours that shape our Christmas. Frustrated at the plethora of Christmas reds, whites and greens those pesky designers at Raw Design Studio are exploring what colours people really associate with their Christmas.