The Expressive design theme embraces colour as a tool for creativity, identity, and optimism. In contrast to more restrained palettes, Expressive celebrates boldness, experimentation, and emotional impact, positioning design as a bridge between human imagination and emerging technologies.
Rather than being purely decorative, Expressive responds to a growing need for spaces that stimulate, engage, and inspire. It reflects a cultural shift toward individuality and playful expression, where colour becomes an active contributor to experience and meaning.
Colour language: bold, playful and dynamic
The Expressive palette is defined by vibrant reds, energetic oranges, lively purples, and bright blues, combined in ways that feel confident rather than chaotic. Colour contrast is used deliberately to create rhythm, movement, and visual energy.
Striking hues such as Heart’s Afire (PPG13-14) and Wet Coral (PPG1189-6) introduce warmth and intensity, while cool accents like Boudoir Blue (PPG1244-4) and Jamaican Sea (PPG1236-6) provide balance and clarity. Lighter tones such as Idyllic Isle (PPG1235-4) soften transitions and help connect bold colour moments within a cohesive whole.
Rather than relying on a single dominant colour, Expressive works through layered combinations, allowing designers to build personality without overwhelming the space.
The 60-30-10 principle offers a clear, practical framework for achieving balance and harmony in any interior setting, whether residential, commercial, educational or healthcare.
Materiality and finish: colour with attitude
In Expressive environments, colour is often amplified through finish and form. Glossy or lacquered surfaces heighten saturation, while matte applications help control intensity. Patterned materials, coloured glass, and sculptural elements reinforce the palette’s sense of movement and play.
Applied to curved walls, furniture, or architectural details, colours such as Enchanted Desert (PPG1068-3) or Still Lake (PPG1175-3) gain a graphic quality that enhances spatial identity. Here, colour is not a backdrop but a defining feature.
Application across sectors
Expressive adapts best to environments where identity, experience, and emotional impact are central.
- Residential: In homes, Expressive allows for personal storytelling. Feature walls, stairwells, or furniture elements become focal points, while calmer tones help balance everyday comfort with individuality.
- Education and creative spaces: In schools, studios, and innovation hubs, Expressive supports curiosity and engagement. Colour zoning can stimulate creativity while aiding orientation and wayfinding.
- Hospitality and leisure:Hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues benefit from Expressive’s ability to create memorable atmospheres. Bold palettes contribute to brand identity and encourage social interaction.
- Retail and public interiors: In commercial and public-facing spaces, Expressive attracts attention and guides movement. Colour becomes a strategic tool for differentiation and experience design.
A confident design attitude
Expressive represents a design mindset rooted in optimism and experimentation. By embracing colour as an expressive medium, the palette supports environments that evolve with culture and technology rather than resist them.
Its strength lies in controlled freedom: bold colours, applied with intent, allow spaces to feel energetic without becoming overwhelming.
Designing with expression
The Expressive palette empowers architects and designers to use colour as a form of communication. Through confident combinations such as Heart’s Afire and Boudoir Blue, it provides a flexible framework for creating spaces that are distinctive, engaging, and emotionally resonant. Spaces that invite people to interact, explore, and feel inspired.
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