On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti Why seeing red can give you the blues
Dec 18, 2025
Olivia Cusio, a color scientist at the Getty Museum, and Melanie McClintock, a design professor, dive into color’s deep emotional impact. They explore how colors shape our mood, memory, and cultural significance. Olivia explains the chemistry behind pigments and light, revealing fascinating insights into Van Gogh's techniques. Meanwhile, Melanie discusses ethical color choices in design and the nuances of teaching color perception to students. Together, they unravel the tight bond between color and our personal experiences.
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Color Drives Emotional Reaction
- Color provokes immediate emotional reactions that shape mood and memory.
- Pantone's annual picks show how design leverages those emotions for cultural influence.
Personal Color Moments
- Cy Madrone feels exhilaration when he sees cornflower blue and periwinkle.
- Sarah Robinson's Tornado Red Beetle made strangers smile and changed her local interactions.
Neutrals Require Precision
- Neutral colors are deceptively difficult to create because humans detect tiny shifts in achromatic tones.
- Pantone uses precise ink recipes and measured chromatic additives to define neutrals like Cloud Dancer.