Lecture delivered by Dr. Regina Blaszcyk at the Hagley Museum and Library on September 12, 2013 about the relationship between color and commerce in American history. The lecture covered the role of professional “color forecasters” and “color engineers” who helped major corporations bridge the gap between color and enterprise. That role still exists, as professional colorists are employed by design management teams in lucrative global corporations including DuPont and its former affiliates General Motors and Seagram. Then and now, professional colorists use psychology and illusion to capture the hearts—and dollars—of consumers.

Blaszczyk’s research provides fresh insight on consumer culture, chemical industries, and designer innovation. Blaszczyk found many sources for her book The Color Revolution in Hagley Museum and Library’s collections, including one of her major sources, the Inter-Society Color Council records.

Regina Lee Blaszczyk is currently Chair in the History of Business and Society at the University of Leeds in the UK. She is the author of seven books, including Imagining Consumers: Design and Innovation from Wedgwood to Corning, for which she was awarded the 2001 Hagley Prize in Business History. Blaszczyk is also Associate Editor at the Journal for Design History. She received her Ph.D. in history from the University of Delaware.

Recordings are available for non-profit and educational use only by the Hagley Museum and Library. If you have any questions, please contact us at Ask Hagley