Event Date:
November 14th, 2024

Hosted by:
Scientific Inquirer

Panel discussion with:
Chris Carvey
Amy Sperber
Kyle Hittmeier
COSE TDS
Ben Tritt

Moderated by:
Cansu Peker (Founder, Digital Arts Blog)

Location:
62 Orchard St
New York, NY

*From left to right: Cansu Peker, Chris Carvey, Amy Sperber, Kyle Hittmeier*

Last Thursday, I had the privilege of moderating a discussion at The Future of Color, the brilliant event hosted by Scientific Inquirer in New York City. The evening was an inspiring exploration of how color is evolving across digital and physical spaces, featuring a panel of incredible experts from diverse creative fields.

Our panelists brought a wealth of experience and unique perspectives to the discussion. Chris Carvey, a UX professional, shared insights from his work creating user-centered designs that bridge complex ideas with simple, elegant interfaces. Amy Sperber, a multidisciplinary fashion designer and educator, shared her experiences on integrating 3D tools into fashion design and the impact of color in her field.

Kyle Hittmeier, a Brooklyn-based multimedia artist and educator, brought an artistic perspective shaped by his work in painting and 3D motion design. COSE TDS, a graffiti artist from NYC’s golden era of the 1980s, shared reflections on the importance of color in street art. Rounding out the panel, Ben Tritt, CEO of Matr Labs, shared about his practice merging generative AI with classical painting techniques to bring digital artworks into physical world.

Throughout the evening, we tackled a range of fascinating topics. We began by discussing the differences between digital and physical colors. In the digital realm, backlit screens create vibrant, high-contrast hues that often don’t translate seamlessly to physical mediums. We explored how creators navigate these challenges, particularly when working across both formats.

With colors appearing differently on various screens, we discussed how digital artists or designers ensure consistency, and whether that’s even the goal. The panelists shared their experiences where they had to adjust to this tension and translate their work accordingly.

We also talked about the role of color in branding and identity. Color is deeply emotional, with certain palettes evoking specific moods. Acknowledging how designers sometimes want the colors to blend beautifully, and other times they want them to be striking or even disturbing, we discussed how the speakers choose the colors for their projects.

Building on the way the sculptor and installation artist Anish Kapoor bought exclusive artistic rights to the world’s blackest black in 2016, resulting in widespread controversy and a longstanding feud with Stuart Semple, we discussed the idea of claiming a color. From iconic hues like Barbie Pink and Tiffany Blue to cultural phenomena like Charli xcx’s “Brat Green,” we considered how colors can define brands and cultural movements. The conversation extended to whether small artists and creators can claim a color as their own in the same way global giants do.

Another key topic was the cultural and emotional impact of color. We discussed how cultural contexts shape the meanings of colors — for example, white symbolizes purity in the West but mourning in the East; and red might signify luck and prosperity in Chinese culture but is mostly associated with danger or stop signals in Western contexts. We discussed the ways these cultural differences affect the global art and design scene, especially in digital spaces catered to visitors worldwide.

Finally, we looked to the future of color. With new technologies like AR and VR reshaping how we experience and interact with color, we speculated on what the next big trends might be. Whether it’s discovering entirely new shades or experimenting with digital tools, it’s clear that color will continue to evolve in exciting ways.

Following the panel discussion, the participants had a chance to connect with each other, engage with a VR painting experience, and enjoy a live painting show with artists Kimyon Huggins and Maya “GreeneJones.”

Moderating this discussion was such a rewarding experience. It was inspiring to hear from our panelists and engage with an audience full of creatives, all of us eager to exchange ideas and explore the exciting possibilities of color.