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Design General

Pink Flamingos and the Yellow Pages

The Stories behind the Colors of Our World

by (author) Bob Hambly

Publisher
Chronicle Books
Initial publish date
Apr 2022
Category
General, Color Theory, Essays
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781452180496
    Publish Date
    Apr 2022
    List Price
    $34.95

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

Discover the weird and wonderful stories of our colorful world!

Why are wedding dresses white? And what is the Ketchup and Mustard Theory? The answers always come back to color. Color infuses our lives with meaning, manifesting in science, language, design, pop culture, and beyond. Specific hues shape our everyday actions and define entire generations. In 75 short essays, this book reveals the hidden histories behind a range of fascinating hues—from shocking shades to subtle tints, from jockey silks on the racetrack to corals on the ocean floor. This elegant little hardcover is bursting with bright photographs throughout. It's a vivid tour across geography and through time that will leave you with a renewed sense of curiosity and wonder about our colorful world.

KNOWLEDGEABLE AUTHOR: Designer Bob Hambly brings both expertise and irresistible enthusiasm to this exploration of color. His blog Colour Studies has received publicity in the design blog world since its 2017 launch—including a feature in Uppercase Magazine.

THE JOY OF COLOR: Color is a universal element of the world; it lifts our mood and fascinates us. Everyone from artists to designers to rainbow lovers will enjoy this fresh spin on the topic.

APPROACHABLE AND COMPELLING: Hambly shares his insights in a direct and appealing style sprinkled with wry humor. Photographs and a bold, colorful design make this book a delight to read.

PERFECT FOR TRIVIA LOVERS: With wow-worthy information presented in bitesize chapters, this is the perfect gift for anyone who loves collecting trivia.

Perfect for:
• Trivia enthusiasts
• Color and rainbow lovers
• Art and design fans
• History buffs
• Pop culture fiends

About the author

Contributor Notes

Bob Hambly is a designer and the creator of the blog Colour Studies. He lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

Editorial Reviews

“Every story is fascinating. Every story, an epiphany. Pick up this fantastic new book and regale your next dinner companions.” —Terry O’Reilly, host of CBC’s Under the Influence

“Hambly’s book delivers its narrative payload with a refreshing economy of form and just the right amount of content. And like the first bite of a great meal, it inspires a taste for more.. It’s a book that you don’t necessarily read cover to cover but that you delightfully snack on. Or gorge on, depending on your appetite.” —Will Novosedlik, Applied Arts Magazine