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I started this project while I was working with a New York consulting firm on the power of celebrity. I asked myself whether there was something about, say, Cameron Diaz’s face we could apply to a cellphone or a car that would increase its appeal. I did something similar for the City of Toronto, trying to figure out whether it has a specific colour that could be used by Canadian firms, and it occurred to me that this could be done for all of Canada.

I began by taking scores of photographs and employed computer software to pull out the predominant colours of Ottawa and the provincial and territorial capitals. The exact process that worked in Toronto did not necessarily work elsewhere — there is also an intuitive element to it. For each city, I had to centre on what makes it unique, such as prominent landmarks or distinctive features of its built environment. As a result, regional differences emerge: the North tends to be very bright, the Maritimes aquatic, Ottawa pale.

Todd Falkowsky teaches at the Ontario College of Art and Design. His latest project, Souvenir, will be featured in the Come Up to My Room exhibition at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto on Valentine's Day

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Comments (5 comments)

Anonymous: Todd, great piece of work. I'm a Canadian living in NYC. I'm wondering if you have considered doing a U.S. version? Thanks again. December 15, 2007 13:00 EST

ian brookes: This author might know of the recent entry of a suite of "Newfoundland Heritage Paints" made by Matchless Paints and viewable at www.heritagefoundation.ca. Interesting concept with historical research married to local enterprise. January 01, 2008 18:39 EST

cassandra: i love this study - and i'm very interested in the psychology of color and how it effects us, so to know that a city has its own color scheme seems like such a great way to determine if you're living in the right place for you! i'd love to be referred to more of this type of study if you know of any...

thanks! January 18, 2008 21:45 EST

Marcel: This is awesome. Very nice. I came across this site. You'll love it.
http://wearpalettes.blogspot.com/ February 12, 2008 06:58 EST

Joana: Hi! I'm a portuguese architecture student and i found your work very interesting, not only as a study but also as a very useful instrument for architecture! Currently i'm projecting a small equipment in Paris, have you studied it's colours? February 21, 2008 07:03 EST

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