What Role Does Color Play in Transportation Design?
Step into any transportation interior and notice what catches your eye first. Chances are, it’s color. But color isn’t just a visual choice. It’s an emotional, strategic, and functional decision that shapes the passenger experience.
For designers, color goes beyond aesthetics. It influences how passengers feel, reinforces brand identity, and can transform confined environments into welcoming spaces. In transportation interiors, color not only guides travelers through their journey, but it can also affect their perception in a positive way.
Color Is Perception and Purpose
Designing with color in aviation and rail interiors is not to be underestimated. Color must perform under real-world conditions, including LED lighting shifts, aging lenses, changes in natural light, and the stress of global travel.
Color can:
- Calm anxious passengers
- Signal cleanliness and trustworthiness
- Create perceived space in tight quarters
- Mark zones and service classes with visual clarity
- Express brand identity with consistency and style
It’s a highly effective tool for branding and a key component of the passenger experience. That’s why, at SEKISUI KYDEX, we’ve developed robust materials that interact with light and transform CMF.
Precision Over Preference
Designers often know the feeling they want to evoke, but achieving the exact hue or finish in a highly regulated environment can be challenging. Color strategy is as technical as it is creative, requiring consistency, performance, and adherence to strict compliance standards. It’s not as simple as choosing a particular shade; it’s about engineering an experience.
Color Forecasting
Choosing colors for transportation interiors is not about following trends – it’s about designing environments that inspire and endure. Color choices must stand the test of time, maintaining their appeal and performance over years of service. Trendy hues may capture attention for a season, but only thoughtfully selected palettes deliver the longevity required for aircraft cabins and rail cars, which can remain in service for decades. Transportation designers know that colors can quickly feel dated or tied to a particular era if not chosen with care.
That’s why SEKISUI KYDEX is a longstanding member of the Color Marketing Group, a global network of color professionals dedicated to creating reliable, forward-looking forecasts. By leveraging these insights, we ensure our color strategies remain fresh, resilient, and aligned with the evolving needs of brands and passengers.
Did you know that color trends are inherently cyclical, reflecting shifts in fashion, politics, media, and the broader cultural mood? After years dominated by cool grays – often chosen for their minimalist appeal – we’re seeing a warming trend in the aftermath of the pandemic. As people seek comfort and connection, those once-popular cool grays have begun to feel stark, prompting an interest in warmer neutrals like beige, taupe, and soft browns. This transition isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s a response to our collective desire for spaces that feel inviting and restorative.
It’s amazing how color trends evolve. I’ve been partial to Periwinkle ever since using accents of the hue for US Airways’ Business Class carpet, bedding, and amenities in 1997 when we launched Envoy on our new A330-300s. Imagine my delight 25 years later when Pantone introduced Very Peri as their Color of the Year for 2022! CMG highlighted Periwinkle early on – calling it “Calm Down” in the Asia Pacific region’s 2018 forecast for 2021+ and identifying “New Day” as a key color in 2019 for North America’s 2022+ forecast.
Color Defines Experience
Ultimately, color evokes personality. It sets the tone, creates emotional connection, and brings cohesion to complex interiors. It’s not just about looking modern or bold. It’s about making passengers feel a certain way throughout their journey. And that feeling starts with intentional, intelligent color design.
What’s your favorite color, and how has it changed over time?
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