Can colour really stimulate the grey matter.

AkzoNobel, DULUX, WEATHERSHIELD and distinctive liveries are trademarks of AkzoNobel Ltd.
The contents of this guide are for information only and no representation or warranty of any kind is given in any relation to any of the information, advice and opinions expressed in it. Whilst we have made all reasonable efforts ensure that statements appearing in this guide are accurate, we disclaim all liability and responsibility realizing from any reliance placed on the information, advice and opinions contained in this guide. We have produced the colours in this brochure as accurately as printing will allow. Please ensure that you use a colour tester or sampler on the actual surface to be painted before decorating, as the substrate (and texture) of the surface can change the appearance of the final colour. Please note, colour tester indicates the colour of the product only and are not representative of the quality or sheen or the final product purchased.

www.icidulux.co.in

'Apart from helping you transform school environments, we are committed to working in partnership with our customers to reduce the impact of our products on the wider environment. From the raw materials we use to how we transport them and how they are disposed of, each development is a small but significant 'step toward greener'.

Thousands of Colours:

Contents
03 05 07 09 11 13 15 How can design boost school performance? From choosing a starting colour to experimenting with confidence Understanding the language of colour through shared experiences Colours do speak, decoding their language The role of colour in helping visually impaired pupils to safely navigate their way around Roll of Honor Why ?

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How can design boost school performance?

Both pupils and teachers perform better in spaces which they feel a part of. Using colour to its best effect as part of a design can enhance learning and attainment and may help users feel more comfortable and secure. Using colours that create a home-like environment can reduce agitation and promote a sense of well-being. In his book Color Environment and Human Response Frank H. Mahnke comments I have yet to come across any pronouncement that supports white and off-white on psychological and physiological grounds for promoting its wide use. So, even when looking for a neutral backdrop avoid the

corporate standard of white and magnolia. Instead consider more contemporary off whites and neutrals such as Natural Calico, Almond White or Almost Oyster (see the Dulux Colour Palette). Coming straight from the classroom, such statistics highlight the crucial importance of getting school design right - creating learning environments that support achievement and attendance and can also help to retain staff. This states that school design cannot be imposed nor bought off-the-shelf. Success lies in users being able to articulate a distinctive vision for their school.

It must be remembered that schools are not just classrooms and spaces may have multiple uses. Consider what you would like people to think and feel as they move through an environment and set out targets and benchmarks to measure the success of any project. One detail that must not be overlooked is that of finish quality, which of course must be of the highest standards. To allow a project to suffer because of poor materials or workmanship can quickly undermine what you have set out to achieve.

Value engineering can easily reduce the design quality of a scheme and real vigilance is required right through till the end of the process.

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Art Class
Inspire Involve

Engage

According to findings by the Sorrell Foundation, pupils want to brighten up their schools with colours, atmosphere and mood, creating a flexible and inspiring place to learn .
When observing pupils at the Foundation, choosing colours for their school they appear to instinctively select colours (not neutrals) because they went together. The pupils colour choices also varied depending on the role of the space. According to one authoritative study, people connect with a space if they have a measure of control over it so if pupils feel that they were consulted about a colour scheme and it was not imposed on them, they are more to respond positively to it . Colour perception is so subjective that there is no consensus about the psychological effects of specific colours. What is clear however, is that by involving the end users and following the principles of good design, colours can be chosen that will be a catalyst for upliftment and renewal.

There are no short cuts or hard and fast rules about which colours to use in the built environment - there are no wrong colours, only bad design.

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Colours can be inspiring, but also bewildering. With so much choice, where do we begin?

3. Presenting your ideas

Every school has many stakeholders - pupils, teachers, parents, governors and more, and it is essential as discussed before that everyone feels enthusiastic about and involved in the refurbishment or redecoration project. Professional designers always use mood boards to bring alive their ideas and help clients select their favourite style. So create an overall mood board, then add individual mood boards for the different types of spaces within the scheme such as corridors, classrooms, and dining areas. A mood board is a collage of relevant images, words, colour swatches and magazine tears. Use whatever it takes to make the colour scheme come alive by relating it to a dramatic visual style - Mediterranean images for aqua blues and pastel shades perhaps. This process may even suggest ways to develop the scheme in exciting new directions leading to 4 or 5 different proposals. Individual mood boards are a graphic representation of the chosen colours and how they relate to each other in the given space. Begin naturally with the start colour. Then place the other colours, including those of the furniture and fittings approximately where they will appear in the room and in similar proportions.

Sometimes colours choose themselves

1. Choose a starting colour

A proven method is to choose a starting colour and fortunately in schools these often suggest themselves. It could be the main colour of the uniform or crest, prominent items of furniture or carpets. Equally, ideas can come from an aspect of the buildings history or its environment, such as local species of butterflies or flowers. Whichever starting colour is selected, it is important to treat it with imagination and flexibility. The bright blue of say, the school blazer may be too strong to use throughout the school. It could however, make a great feature wall in the reception or hall with paler shades chosen for the other walls. The next step is to expand on the starting colour and create a colour palette for the whole project. Combining colour is a tricky business and many combinations simply will not work. However the Dulux colour palette is organized to make the creation of co-ordinated schemes relatively straightforward - simply follow the Language of Colour.

2. Co-ordinate
The Language of Colour is a unique Dulux colour classification system, which groups colours with similar characteristics into four different moods: Rich: saturated, vivid and dramatic Fresh: pure, clean and breezy Warm: mellow, relaxed and content Calm: soft, subtle and muted The simple rule is that by selecting colours that have similar colour characteristics, i.e. selecting them all from one mood only, they can coordinate with each other beautifully. For example use a fresh yellow (bright and very clean) with a calm orange (smoky, greyed off), and the orange would look dirty and dull against the bright yellow. Use a fresh orange, instead and they will complement each other beautifully. Experience suggests that the fresh, warm and calm moods are easiest to work with. There is a classification symbol on each page of the fan deck, indicating which mood the colours are from. Refining your scheme further, you can consider the ideas of tonal, harmonizing and complementary colours. Tonal colours are also known as monochromatic (i.e. one colour) and use a palette of different shades from the same hue. Each page of the Dulux fan deck is effectively a tonal scheme. Harmonizing schemes use colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel, whereas contrasting scheme use colours that are opposite each other on the wheel.

4. Experiment
Stick things down with re-usable adhesive, so that colours can be easily moved around and changed. Also, use fabric and other sample where appropriate, because texture and pattern can have decisive effects on a colour scheme. Lighting also needs to be considered and where possible choose colours under these conditions. Be sure to use actual colour sample rather than just something close; a tiny nuance of shade or tone can make a dramatic difference.

Never be afraid to experiment at first. Try different combination and proportions before making your final decisions

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Choosing a color scheme is something of a responsibility and can seem daunting to those without the training or the professional eye of a colour specialist. We have introduced the Language of Colour as a simple and effective way to create co-ordinated colour palettes to use both at home and in the learning environment. Dulux colour scientists and designers have grouped colours that go together into four colour moods: rich, fresh, warm and calm. By sticking within a single mood you will be able to select colours that will coordinate. It is not always possible to get teacher and pupil involvement when selecting the colours but it is important to be sure of what they want from their school design. As colour is such a subjective issue, there are no hard and fast rules that lead to the perfect colour scheme. There are, however, certain techniques you can apply and three of them are suggested here to help you find the right colour palette for your school. is a PC based colour scheming tool designed by professionals and is available on our website www.icidulux.co.in.

1. Co-ordinating with a Start colour

You may have a definite start colour in mind, such as flooring or furniture that will be retained. If so, creating a palette of co-ordinating colour is simple using colour scheming tools. Firstly select the colour closest to your start colour; in this example we have selected start colour (1) 90RR 16/386a rich red like you might see on a floor or blazer; it would be great to use for a single dramatic feature wall in a hall or atrium, or to use on a doors or metal work throughout the building. Then select from our suggesting coordinating wall colours; this can be done by using mouse painter or the fan deck. Remember to choose colour from the same mood; we choose (2) 30 YR 1 2 67/113, pale peachy tones, (4) 30YR 64/044, a subtle neutral, 3 and (3) 50GY 75/122, a soft green that contrasts beautifully with all 4 of the other colours, lifting the schemes. This allows you to add interest where required or complements particular parts of the building, for instance long corridors or rooms facing gardens or green spaces. A useful fifth colour would be 70RR 83/040, which is the palest version of the start colour; find it on the same page as your start colour, also called a toning colour in the software. In order to get a real sense of a chosen colour, it is important to look at the individual colour in isolation, away from the other colours on the stripe card.

up feeling cluttered. Build your mood board and experiment to design the feel and balance that is right.

3.The Rich Start Colour Scheme 2.The Free Flow Scheme

If you are decorating more than one area, then a good technique to practice is to select colours that flow through the school, linking the entire building together. In the most basic form this could involve using a single colour. Alternatively, how much more stimulating and inspiring would it be to use different colours that flow smoothly from one area to another? This organic approach to colour design can be an effective way of unifying different architectural styles- in a school that has a modern extension to a much older main building, for instance and helps foster a clear sense of identity and character throughout. The key to making this scheme work and prevent a disparate, cluttered feel, is to select all the colours from the same colour mood and limit the different colours used in any one area to two or three. These colours have been chosen from the fresh palette and so are clean and colourful- really great for younger children. The start colour we have chosen is a fresh and clean lemon yellow (1) 60YY 83/187. A more challenging but also a highly striking approach to colour is to build a scheme around a Rich Start colour. As the name suggests, it begins with a rich, bold start colour. There are many deep colours within the fresh, calm and warm moods, which are easier to scheme with if your start colour is close enough. However, if your chosen colour is truly Rich, then the mouse painter tool can help. The software allows you to select from toning and harmonizing colours as before. These however will also be rich and we would not advise using within a school environment without professional help. I n s t e a d c h o o s e f ro m t h e complimentary neutrals which will 1 2 give you a sophisticated scheme. In our example we have chosen a 3 rich blue, (1) 43BB 09/340 which would be ideal for feature walls. 4 We have then selected (4) 80YR 57.070 or (3) 00YY 59/098 for walls. The doors could be the rich blue or a co-ordinating rich chocolate brown (2) 50YR 10/151.

Next we have chosen different coordinated door colours. These both enhance the yellow and can give identity to different areas e.g. green doors for science, blue doors for languages etc.

Some formulae for success

The colours selected are: (2) 30GY 40/53, (3) 47RR 32/383 and (4) 89BG 37/353. These may seem strong, but they will never be used together. Another design trick is to choose all the door colours at a similar light reflectance. We have also ensured that the LRV of each door colour is at least 30 points different to the start yellow - allowing visually impaired users to more easily identify the door from the wall.
Alternatively, select other co-ordinating wall colours which will flow from one area to the other whilst allowing for discreet personalization. In this case we have selected (2) 30YR 68/127 (3) 70BG 70/131 and (4) 30GY 75/25. Take care that in any one area you cant see too many colours or it may end

The Dulux Colour Palette Notation System

Each colours unique code identifies it precisely according to the three factors that determine how we perceive colour.

90RR 16 386
Hue LRV CHORMA
Hue - the colour family to which it belongs Light Reflectance Value (LRV) - its lightness and darkness Chroma - its intensity, the higher the chroma number, the more intense the colour.

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How to be fluent in the language of colour?

have worked with great Colour Expert from success on a number of schools, so we asked a couple of them to share their experiences in the form of these hints, tips and examples. We hope their advice will give you the confidence to think about colour with greater freedom.

Use Bold colours in busy places

High traffic areas, where people mingle and socialize, are the idle places to add splash of something bold, especially if practical consideration are making the rest of the building quite neutral.

Start with the right words

Begin by thinking about your project in warm, emotional words, rather than cold, abstract concepts: children and young adults in learning and playing spaces, not pupils in classrooms; inspirational, attention grabbing and adaptable spaces rather than faculties and facilities. This will enable you to create a flexible, vibrant colour story rather than boring-sounding scheme.

Dont forget the floors

Pre-school and primary age children spend a lot of time on the floor, indoors and outside so make floors exciting, imagination-boosting places. A blue floor can be the sea or the sky, where they float or fly.

Use school colours flexibly

You may be asked to incorporate the school colour into the scheme but it shouldnt be allowed to take over. If you use a single colour throughout a room, the stronger the overall impression of that colour will be. So use it sparingly and if you have any doubt that it may be too intense, think about using a softer shade of the original colour. If the school colour already features strongly in the furniture and fittings, that may give you a persuasive case for avoiding it elsewhere. Over-use of one colour can create an oppressive feel.

Adapt your colours to the style of the building

Refine the palette to fit the environments. This may mean using colour in pockets or graying the tones to fit a more traditional setting.

Bear in mind all the functions of each space

Lots of places in schools have to be multifunctional, so its essential to consider every possible use before finalising the colour choice. What may look great in a sports hall or dance studio might not seem so good to eat your lunch in or take an exam. Academic subject rooms tend to have one stronger coloured teaching wall, but if the room is also to be used as a creative space, the teaching wall colour might have to be toned down or limited to trim.

Tailor the colours to the age-group

Two examples of how to choose colour palettes relevant to very different age groups.

25YY81/177

87G

G 51

/291

For 5-10 year olds select colours to stimulate their sense of fun and play - the clean main wall colour 25YY 81/177 offset by fresh, uplifting accent colours such as 87GG 51/291for teaching walls, doors and other featured surfaces. In dramatic contrast, for 16+ students at a higher education college, create a funky, fashion-led interior to relate the college to the students lives outside-using the most cutting edge shades found in the unique Dulux Colour Futures Book. Visit w w w. c o l o u r f u t u r e s . c o m f o r m o r e information.
70YY 63/326

A warm neutral 70YY 63/326 livened up by splashes of stronger colour such as 90GG 42/171, which is a paler version of the colour 90GG 30/195 also suited the contemporary architecture of the building.

90G

G4

2/1

71

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Making everyone welcome

Colours in schools can play a particularly useful role in helping visually impaired pupils, teachers and other users navigate spaces safely and access school facilities and equipment more easily. has worked closely with the RNIB, Guide Dogs for the Blind and the University of Reading to research this field. As part of that research it has been established that over 80% of visually impaired people are able to discern certain colour differences. So design that clearly distinguishes adjacent surfaces and areas with different colours can make it much easier for them to move around independently and identify features in the environment.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) recommended guidelines for Building Regulation advise that any colours used to differentiate surfaces should vary in LRV (Light Reflectance Value) by at least 30 points. Light Reflective Value (LRV) The lightness or darkness of the colour

90GG 83/069

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

99

78GG 79/109

LRV is a 99 point index used to measure the degree to which a colour reflects the light the falls on it. The higher the colour's LRV, the more light it reflects and the lighter it appears. The LRV for each colour is part of Colour Palette.

89GG 63/216

90GG 83/069
87GG 60/239

87GG 51/291 78GG 21/381

87GG 51/291

88GG 32/346

For example, your start colour 87GG 51/ 291 has an LRV of 51. To go at least 30 LRV lighter the closest colour on the card would be 90GG 83/069 or 30 LRV darker would be 78GG 21/381.

78GG 21/381

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PAINTS WITH SPECIAL TALENTS

Dulux 3in1:
A bacteria resistant, washable paint
Dulux 3in1 StayClean is an unmatched choice when it comes to painting spaces where hygiene is most important and hence cannot be compromised on. Bacteria and fungus come into contact with walls through various carriers such as dust, liquids and human contact. The ordinary wall paints make it easier for bacteria and fungus to breed on the walls for days! The revolutionary Health Guard Technology in Dulux 3in1 contains ZPTO bactericide that resists the growth of harmful bacteria & fungus. It safeguards your school environment and gives your walls a beautiful finish that stays like new for years. Dulux 3in1 StayClean powered with SmartecTM has a unique Latex film, which makes it upto 3 times more washable than Standard emulsion making it resistant to common stains. Hence Dulux 3in1 StayClean is the ideal choice for school, hospital and home environment with infants, schools and hospitals.

Dulux Weathershield Sun Reflect

The energy saving paint
When tested against conventional exterior emulsions, buildings decorated with Dulux WeatherShield SunReflect were shown to reduce power consumption by upto 10%. Term after term, year after year, that can add up to significant energy savings. The secret is our revolutionary SunReflect technology which has a higher SRI (Sun Reflective Index) the ability to reflect the heat causing IR rays. Because of this technology, WeatherShield can reflect IR rays by upto 90% higher* as compared to regular exterior paints. The higher Solar reflectance of Dulux WeatherShield has been certified by the Centre For Energy Studies and Research (CESR). Not only that, it is a complete package of protection for exterior walls. The WeatherShield SunReflect is equipped with a unique Colour Lock Technology, which makes colour last for a longer period of time. WeatherShield is a superior exterior paint that prevents the growth of fungus and algae, is 100% waterproof and has a five year weather protection. It also has the lowest VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) among all the existing paints in the market.
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A & T E R I I S TA N T C BA S RES GU F UN

No.

washable paint

utiful finis a e

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The
Products

advantage
is committed to helping our clients deliver safe, stimulating and colourful environments for staff and students alike, and we will work with you closely to bring our unrivalled colour expertise to bear on any projects you are currently planning.

The Dulux brand has a variety of products, which have been developed in our own world leading laboratories to deliver precise solutions to a wide range of interior and exterior coverage challenges. Numerous studies point to the fact that the correct use of colours and textures within places such as schools and colleges can have a dramatic and measurable effect in enhancing the learning environment. That's why at we have set out to create the most comprehensive range of colours and effects on the market, including primers, decorative finishes, special effects, exterior and maintenance coatings.

Preview
'Previews' - the unique facility that lets you see the finish before it has started.
designed for you.

The 'Previews' system allows rooms and buildings, which need painting to be digitally photographed and then re-created with our colour experts recommended alternative colour schemes applied to them. It shows, with a high degree of realism, how the finished project will look, which can be of major assistance when consulting with staff, governors and other interested parties.

DuSpec
DuSpec 2.0 is the next generation in paint specification, enabling users to seamlessly create and customize professional paint specifications and share these effortlessly with clients and colleagues.

Onsite Management & Technical Expertise

Our technical teams are there from inception of the project and throughout the life of the building. Our unique "On site management" service helps product selection and specification, supervise application, oversee installation and check on site painting.

Colour Specifier Guide

Whilst the choice of colours can enhance both the way a building looks and works, careful colour selection can particularly improve the ability of visually impaired people to move around a building more easily, particularly on stairwells and corridors.

Quality Contractors
In addition to the dedicated teams within , it is also recognised that quality approved contractors are a key component in ensuring that projects are delivered on time, on budget and to the required quality specification. You can make use of the well-established Dulux Pro Partnership scheme, which provides quality assured contractors working to an agreed code of conduct with the technical support of . 17