What does colour mean for your products?

In addition to networking, Flanders Flooring Days is all about new information and inspiration, both from the companies participating and through seminars. Colour authority Judith Van Vliet will be returning for next year’s event. Don’t expect her to simply name a trending colour, give a couple of generic tips and leave it at that. Judith is passionate about colours, what they mean to people and how they work with different materials. Sustainability, culture, psychology and taste all combined in a single colour philosophy. Don't miss her seminar at the fourth edition of Flanders Flooring Days.

Asked exactly what she does, Judith Van Vliet explains: “I help clients with colour. Through my company, The Color Authority, I provide companies with advice about colours and what they communicate. That's all connected to culture and psychology. So it can help you to convey your message at a deeper level. I pick out trending colours, put together colour charts and research the way colour works with various materials. How a colour appears on a Pantone chart can be quite different to how it looks as part of your end product.”

An introduction to colour theory

Judith shares her vision through her podcast, The Color Authority, and as a speaker at industry events, like Milan Design Week. In 2024, she delivered her seminar ‘Do you speak colour?’ at the third edition of Flanders Flooring Days. “I’m always struck by the way people seem afraid of colour. So I want to give them a sense of how personal colour is. I often start my seminars by asking people to think about the colour red. Everyone sees a different shade in their mind’s eye, based on their past, context and culture.”

Judith takes her audience on a journey through the colour family, explaining what those different shades of various colours represent. Through an exploration of the history of colours, she demonstrates to her audience just how complex choosing the perfect colour for their brand and products can be. “The context in which a colour will be used is crucial too. Think of the warm colours you see in Spain. They appear very dull under the light in Belgium. Choosing the right colours involves so much more than just following trends and using the colour of the year in your collection. People don't understand how colour works. That's where I come in, explaining colour theory and emphasising the importance of the material you’re intending to use the colour for.”

A colourful network

Colour theory, trends and the impact of sustainability on colours are just a few of the themes that will be covered as part of Judith’s talk at the next edition of Flanders Flooring Days.