EFFIE BATEMAN | Lifestyle | Contact
Companies are being urged to please release us from this hellish monochromatic landscape, as everything from cars, tech products, home appliances, furniture and home interiors appear limited to neutrals, black, white and grey.
A far cry from the earthy hues of orange, green and brown of the seventies, and the dalliance with neon that was popular in the 80s, the world now sees itself dominated with fifty shades of grey, as companies opt to go for inoffensive colours and designs, which are also coincidentally, a lot cheaper to manufacture.
Speaking to Dr Joyce Lemming, 36, an anthropologist who specialises in colour theory, The Advocate learns that unsurprisingly, the world becoming void of colour and joy can all be blamed on capitalism.
“The trend towards grey products reflects a broader societal shift towards minimalism and simplicity,” observes Lemming, “which I believe can be partly to blame due to the constant bombardment of advertising, which tends to use vibrant colours such as yellow, red and orange.”
“A neutral home gives us a reprieve from that. It’s like stepping out for a breath of fresh air.”
Lemming says that companies also tend to opt for bland, inoffensive shades, because it ‘sells better.’
“Humorously, consumers are also considering the resell value of their products when purchasing a car, or painting a wall in their house,”
“Any sense of individuality can result in something being more difficult to sell in the future, resulting in this cycle of dull, uninspiring products.”
“Does anyone actually REALLY want a grey car, or have they been told it will be easier to sell in the future?”
Letting out a dark chuckle, Lemming says the loss of colour over the last twenty years, is almost metaphorical.
“When I think back to my childhood, I remember so much vibrancy and colour.”
“And the older I’ve gotten, the more it’s been absorbed with grey.”
More to come.
