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The Designer's Dictionary of Color: Practical, example-filled guide to thirty key colors, their histories, and persuasive design uses. Hardcover – April 11, 2017
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Designed for graphic designers, interior designers, artists, and anyone who uses color to express themselves, this book is both a practical resource and an inspirational tool. With astute descriptions and ideas for pitching colors to clients, The Designer's Dictionary of Color opens up the world of color for all who seek to harness its incredible power.
Organized by spectrum, this comprehensive guide provides detailed charts showing color ranges and palette variations, making it easy to navigate and reference during creative projects.
Each chapter delves into the creative history and cultural associations of a specific color, from the artistic to the utilitarian. Whether it's the turquoise on a Reid Miles album cover or the avocado paint on a 1970s Dodge station wagon, Adams provides insightful context and practical applications for each hue.
“The descriptions are astute and succinct and even offer ideas for pitching particular colors to clients. . . . Edges are lined in the color of each chapter, so you can flip to the right chapter for quick reference during a meeting and while doing research.” —Communication Arts
- Print length256 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherAbrams Books
- Publication dateApril 11, 2017
- Dimensions7.5 x 1.15 x 9.69 inches
- ISBN-109781419723919
- ISBN-13978-1419723919
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Product details
- ASIN : 141972391X
- Publisher : Abrams Books
- Publication date : April 11, 2017
- Edition : 1st
- Language : English
- Print length : 256 pages
- ISBN-10 : 9781419723919
- ISBN-13 : 978-1419723919
- Item Weight : 2.6 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.5 x 1.15 x 9.69 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #59,670 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #39 in Decorative Arts
- #75 in Graphic Design Color Use
- #146 in Interior Design
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Sean Adams is the Chair of Undergraduate and Graduate Graphic Design at ArtCenter,
founder of Burning Settlers Cabin studio, and on-screen author for lynda.com/Linked In. He
is the only two-term AIGA national president in AIGA’s 100-year history. In 2014, Adams was
awarded the AIGA Medal, the highest honor in the profession.
He is an AIGA Fellow, and Aspen Design Fellow. He has been recognized by every major
competition and publication including; How, Print, Step, Communication Arts, Graphis, AIGA,
The Type Directors Club, The British Art Director’s Club, and the Art Director’s Club. Adams has
been exhibited often, including a solo exhibition at The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Adams is an author of multiple magazine columns and several best-selling books. He has been
cited as one of the forty most important people shaping design internationally, and one of the
top ten influential designers in the United States.
Previously, Adams was a founding partner at AdamsMorioka. His clients have included The
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Disney, Mohawk Fine Papers, The Metropolitan
Opera, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Richard Meier & Partners, Sundance,
and the University of Southern California.
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Very useful, and interesting information!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseThis book is so cool! This book have on all the pages different information about the colour in question. It have the colour, how to make the color, emotional benefits about the color, cultural meaning, some examples of design, color range and pallet variations.
I love this book, because it have very useful information for enthusiasts, Artist, and Designer!!!
5.0 out of 5 starsThis book is so cool! This book have on all the pages different information about the colour in question. It have the colour, how to make the color, emotional benefits about the color, cultural meaning, some examples of design, color range and pallet variations.Very useful, and interesting information!
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2024
I love this book, because it have very useful information for enthusiasts, Artist, and Designer!!!
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2024Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseThe book is literally amazing. It gave me so much insight on the world of colors that I have never thought was out there before.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2025Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseLlego en buenas condiciones, me gusto!The media could not be loaded.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2020Format: KindleVerified Purchasethe book was really insightful and fascinating from an artist perspective , the theory on color and cultural meaninging were a piece that was delightful. but diving in deeper into the relationships of each color more , and more in detail on the culural and literal aspects of the colors used. i also want to highlight the great parts of the book, the color examples used by the author : graphic prints from old to modern magazines pop and retro images. sculptures from high renaissance this was a great addition to reading about color, i felt the colors resonated more with the information. lastly, there was a good balance between color and information. reccomended book !
- Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2017Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseThis book perfectly describes everything I feel about colors and does a great job describing the cultural and historical associations we have with color. It also provides lots of great examples of how these colors have been used in Design history and it's fantastic. Definitely recommended to anyone curious about color, design, and its uses in history.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2019Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseWhat trips me the most about this book is the premium printing. The hardcover too is really great.
But whatever you do with this book, don't let a drop of water fall off on any of its pages as it smears the colors and creates unwanted color transitions when dry.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2019Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseI’m big on social media and this book, combined with studying color theory has allowed me to increase my skills and shares/views/likes and comments. Great for digital painters and each chapter does an amazing job digging into the historical meaning of each color and the emotions that are conveyed.
What I found most helpful were the color palettes-this is what’s helping me to take my art to the next level.
100% recommended
5.0 out of 5 starsI’m big on social media and this book, combined with studying color theory has allowed me to increase my skills and shares/views/likes and comments. Great for digital painters and each chapter does an amazing job digging into the historical meaning of each color and the emotions that are conveyed.If you’re an artist or designer then this book will be a game changer
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2019
What I found most helpful were the color palettes-this is what’s helping me to take my art to the next level.
100% recommended
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2020Format: KindleVerified PurchaseI have to have this book. I am so in love with color after reading the book. I will definitely get some of these books for my students.
Victoria
Top reviews from other countries
YuukiReviewed in Spain on April 30, 20235.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchasegood book , very educational
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Rodrigo LisboaReviewed in Brazil on November 12, 20205.0 out of 5 stars Incrível!
Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseQuando vi esse livro fiquei louco pra comprar kkkkk É lindo demais cara! Pra quem gosta de apreciar diversas cores e ter base das possibilidades de uso, é incrível. Se você é designer, nem pense muito kkkkkk compra logo, pois vale demais a compra.
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Cliente AmazonReviewed in Italy on November 10, 20245.0 out of 5 stars Molto bello
Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseBel libro, utile e ben fatto
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ReemReviewed in the United Arab Emirates on December 1, 20232.0 out of 5 stars عادي جدا
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchaseللأسف عادي
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RaúlReviewed in Mexico on May 7, 20205.0 out of 5 stars Muy buen libro a buen precio.
Format: HardcoverVerified PurchaseEl libro es bastante bueno. La cantidad de color, la buena calidad de impresión, las referencias, todo.
Si te llama la atención el diseño gráfico este libro es muy buena referencia. Yo soy Arquitecto y me encantó el libro, lo tendré para consulta.
























