Dulux Trade introduces a Specifier’s Guide to Colour Tools

Colour is an important part of the design process. However, it can be difficult to know which colours to choose when it comes to creating inclusive designs. With years of specification experience across a range of sectors and working environments, Dulux Trade can help professionals create beautiful spaces using evidence-based research and principles focused on delivering the very best occupant experience. Dawn Scott, Senior Colour Designer at Dulux Trade, introduces the colour tools available.

Colour and Contrast Design Guide

Dulux Trade’s Colour and Contrast Design Guide is a digital tool that helps specifiers create inclusive and functional spaces. It ensures that designs comply with visual contrast guidelines set out in the Building Regulations Approved Document M vol.2, and British Code of Practice: BS8300-2:2018.

Research shows that contrast between surfaces can positively impact accessibility, particularly for those that are visually impaired. People use critical surfaces, such as walls, ceilings, floors and doors to understand a space, gauge its dimensions and identify features, such as entrances and exits. As such, designers should ensure that these key surfaces have sufficient contrast to ensure that they are as visible as possible.

The Colour and Contrast Design Guide allows designers to create and save colour schemes, share them with clients, or print them for reference, ensuring that the designs are both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Colour Schemer

The Dulux Trade Colour Schemer is an intuitive online tool designed to help professionals create and visualise colour schemes for various commercial building projects. It allows designers to select a specific sector, such as leisure or education. It will then ask whether they want to ‘be inspired’ with ready-made colour schemes or create their own mood board. Both options allow for easy visualisation of the final design. There is an option to ensure that the palette complies with the Equality Act 2010 making spaces both appealing and compliant.

Dulux Trade is committed to fostering ongoing discussions about inclusive design. To support, it has developed these colour tools for designers and specifiers to use when planning colour schemes for their projects. As well as designing beautiful spaces, these tools will also ensure that inclusive design remains a priority.

For additional support, designers and specifiers can also get in touch with one of Dulux Trade’s expert team of colour consultants. Click here to find out more.