The Swedish Colour Centre Foundation was founded in 1964 by IVA (Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences), Svensk Form (the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design) and several important Swedish industrial companies. Its main objective was to carry out interdisciplinary research and development within the colour field. This work, lead by Dr. Anders Hård, together with Prof. Gunnar Tonnquist and Prof. Lars Sivik, eventually resulted in the Natural Colour System, NCS, which became Swedish Standard in 1979.

The task of the Swedish Colour Centre Foundation is:

– to encourage scientific research within the colour field of interest for industry, education and people working with colour
– to spread new knowledge and experience within the colour field
– to be a natural centre for colour and colour research.

To fulfill these tasks the Swedish Colour Centre Foundation accomplishes the following activities:
– The Colour Award “Prisad Färg” for students.
– Regular Members’ meetings with guest lecturers or study visits.
– Newsletters 7 times a year with information about colour research projects, colour use in practice and new developments within the field of colour in Sweden as well as internationally.

Image: Hella Jongerius Breathing Colour, Nationalmuseum.

AWARDED COLOUR (PRISAD FÄRG)

Awarded Colour is an ongoing project and the most important one within Swedish Colour Centre Foundation. The project can be divided into the following activities, all to increase knowledge and awareness of the importance of color:

The Yearly Teacher Seminars. The long-term project of Colour Centre to show the importance of colour education in the teaching of architects and design students.

We have a network of teachers in almost all of the design- and architects’ schools in Sweden with the goal to raise the interest of colour education both for students and teachers. We meet once a year in a colour workshop for inspiration and exchange of experience.

Awarded Colour is a colour design competition for newly graduated and students of design, architecture, visual communication, and art in Sweden. We want to increase the knowledge of colour and make use of colour as an important element in the design process and create multiple tasks for design- and architecture students to highlight the interest and importance of colour and to show good examples of using colour.

Prize-giving ceremony for Awarded Colour is during celebration of the ICD (International Colour Day) On 21 March, including lecture by the prize-winner of the year.