THE MAGIC OF COLOUR PALETTES

Farmers markets, fiddlehead season, celestial sightings, Barbiecore… these are a few things that have stirred up colour palette ideas in the past year.

If colour palettes teach us anything, it’s that inspiration can come from unlikely places.

Our designers are experts at taking this inspiration and creating a curated palette that is both a feast for the eyes and a fun way to celebrate current trends, seasonal shifts, local events, current campaigns, big pop culture moments, and more.

Colour palettes are also a fun way to flex our creative muscles by dreaming up colour names. This process usually involves a group Slack brainstorm sesh, where everyone puts forward fun and stylistic naming options.

It's a feast for the eyes and has become a way to celebrate moments big and small here at Duke.

We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Continue reading for a Q+A with Duke Art Director, Becky about the making of colour palettes.

Q. Where do you find inspiration for colour palettes?
A. I’d say my biggest inspiration is usually nature’s palette. Nature offers an endless array of colours and combinations that can evoke so many moods and emotions.

Q. What does the process of creating a colour palette look like?
A. I usually start with a little research on the current month. Are there any interesting facts, events, or folklore that I can draw inspiration from? Then onto creating a few palette variations and narrowing it down to my favourites!

Q. What is the best part of the process?
A. I really like the research! For example, did you know that the month of April gets its name from the Latin word aperio, meaning “to open (bud)”? Isn’t that lovely? 

Q. Do you have a favourite colour palette to date?
A. I love autumnal tones, so last November’s “Fieldmouse” palette is a favourite.

Take a scroll through the 2022-23 colour palettes below and let us know which ones you love most!

Becky’s fave!

Holly’s fave!

Holly’s other fave!

Katie’s fave!

Alysha’s fave!