To brighten an otherwise bleak canvas around our cities, designers from Gensler have volunteered their time to partner with small business owners to create vibrant and inspiring murals that reflect the distinct personality of each business, as well as the promise of better times to come. Color Speaks — a research project spearheaded by Sara Thompson, Ryan Collier, and Krista Reeder at Gensler’s Seattle office — was initially created to study how color can bring hope and optimism to the future of our cities. “We have been looking at how applications of color in the urban environment affect our behavior and hypothesized that it may just improve our collective well-being,” says Krista Reeder, Associate and Brand Design Director at Gensler.
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In the face of COVID-19, the team is using the initiative to encourage others to join them in revitalizing storefronts and transforming abandoned streets into beautiful splashes of uplifting colors and positive messages. “We’re trying to send a message of resilience, that design can inspire hope in uneven time,” adds Reeder. To date, the Gensler Seattle team has painted murals at three locations around Seattle: Roquette in Belltown, and the Hillside and Montana bars — both located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Gensler Portland has completed one mural for Kate Towers Studio + Shop, and has several others underway. Many other Gensler offices around the nation are joining in to beautify their own cities.
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The team has created a free downloadable tool kit (containing a list of necessary supplies, “paint-by-number” guide, and helpful tips) that walks even non-artists through the process of painting their own murals. Anyone interested in receiving a copy of the downloadable tool kit can contact the team directly through the Color Speaks Instagram page.
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