"The Meaning of the Sea" Vol. 2
RAW COLOR

Transcending Boundaries: Color as a Universal Language

There is a design studio in the Netherlands with the unique name RAW COLOR. Since founding the studio in 2008, Daniera ter Haar and Christoph Brach have focused their design practice on “color,” just as the name suggests.

Daniera originally studied textiles and scenography, while Christoph specialized in graphic and product design. The two collaborated on their first project after graduating from Design Academy Eindhoven. This has developed into an installation titled RAW COLOR RESEARCH. The project featured posters made with natural pigments extracted from vegetables such as beets and carrots, whose colors changed over time.After exhibiting the work in Milan, they began receiving one commission after another under the name RAW COLOR. As a result, they decided to keep the name as the name of their design studio

“Color is a universal language that everyone can understand. Although we each studied different fields—textiles, graphics, and product design—we are able to work together because we share color as a common language. The world of color is incredibly flexible and free. And, of course, it is beautiful.

Indeed, simply looking at the colorful materials and mock-ups displayed throughout their studio in Eindhoven is enough to lift your spirits and spark the imagination. Color has a powerful impact not only on creatives but on people in general. We instinctively perceive subtle differences in hue, brightness, saturation, and intensity, and respond to them almost instantly. It was against this backdrop that RAW COLOR initiated an independent project called Temperature Textiles.

“We are constantly exposed to news about climate change and global warming and their effects on our daily lives. But there is simply too much information, and when we look at rows of data and statistics, it can be difficult for people without specialist knowledge to understand what the actual problems are or how we should respond to them. We began by wondering whether the power of color could help us understand our current situation in a way that felt more immediate and accessible.”

What will happen in ten years if carbon dioxide and methane emissions continue at their current rate? And when sea levels actually rise, how high will the water reach? If people could understand these changes visually and physically, might their response also change? RAW COLOR combined the power of color, graphics, and textiles—the three central elements of their creative practice—to transform awareness of climate change into design. The results are several products: Flat Knit Blankets, Double Knit Blankets, Temperature Socks and Scarves.

Turning Complex Data into Something Clearer

The collection is divided into three themes: Emission, Temperature, and Sea Level. Based on four scenarios projected by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), RAW COLOR created patterns that visualize four possible futures, ranging from a scenario of aggressive emissions reduction to one in which emissions continue at their current level without intervention. The rising temperatures associated with these emissions are represented by detailed lines that visualise the data on backdrops of color gradients that shift from cool tones at Sea Level theme to warm tones at Temperature theme.

“The flat-knit blankets measure 160 × 230 cm, while the double-knit versions measure 160 × 260 cm, making them quite large. Rather than trying to interpret data on the small screen of a smartphone, we thought that presenting it at this scale would communicate a much stronger message.”

The blankets also embody a subtle hope that, instead of turning up the heating during winter, people might simply wrap themselves in a warm blanket and avoid using more energy than necessary. The project was launched just as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, causing gas prices to soar amid concerns over energy shortages. The collection consequently received a significant amount of attention and generated a strong response.

The other product, Temperature Socks, focuses on rising ocean levels. The stripes visible around the ankles of the socks function as a scale indicating sea level. Four highlighted markings represent projected rises in ocean levels over successive decades: 7 cm in 2020, 12 cm in 2030, 17 cm in 2040, and 22 cm in 2050. These figures are based on calculations reflecting the ideal scenario of RCP2.6, the target scenario set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

“If we do nothing, the Netherlands, where one-quarter of the country is said to lie below sea level, could eventually find much of its land submerged. It may be difficult to imagine what a 22 cm rise in ocean levels actually means. But if you translate that figure into a story in which the water reaches your own ankles, you may be able to perceive it as something real and be stimulated to take conscious action.”

Giving Back to People and the Planet Through Making

RAW COLOR works across a wide range of media, including products, photography, and graphics. Why, then, did they choose textiles as the medium for this project?

“Textiles touch the skin directly and are worn every day, making them one of the products closest to the human body. That makes them an ideal medium for connecting people with the phenomena happening around them and allowing them to experience those relationships physically. The Netherlands also has a strong textile industry and provides an environment where creatives can conduct research and experimentation. This has certainly influenced our ability to pursue numerous textile projects.”

In developing Temperature Texitles, RAW COLOR received invaluable assistance from the Textile Museum in Tilburg, a town located about 30 minutes by car from Eindhoven. The museum houses a state-of-the-art research facility, the Textile Lab, where RAW COLOR studied weaving and knitting processes using the machinery and experimental equipment. Furthermore, they received yarn as raw material from the museum, which allowed them to continue development. They also received support from the Creative Industries Fund, the City of Eindhoven, and the Stoklos Foundation, without which they say it would have been impossible to carry out such a time-consuming project.

"We are fully aware that industrial manufacturing involves energy consumption and increases emissions. However, the most important thing is to create an opportunity for individuals to confront the problems they face and take some kind of action. Even if it's just a small step, if we can move forward even a little, something will change. What we are working on is 'manufacturing that physically encourages dialogue with oneself.' In order to understand one's situation, reflect on it, and actively use that understanding to live one's life going forward, we wanted to convey the message of 'let's think about the future together' in a more beautiful and appealing way, rather than using negative methods that incite fear by saying, 'An incredible era is coming.'"

To help carry this initiative forward into the future, RAW COLOR donates 10% of the sales from Temperature Textiles to Trees for All. With more than 25 years of history in the Netherlands, Trees for All is a recognized environmental NGO that plants trees to protect biodiversity and promote carbon offsetting as a measure against climate change. Since the launch of the project, RAW COLOR has already contributed to the planting of more than 500 trees.

Collaborations are also underway with Dutch manufacturers and companies using Temperature Textiles, and the studio is currently developing a range of lifestyle products. At the same time, RAW COLOR plans to continue its independent project and keep the products available for purchase.

“Managing production and distribution ourselves comes with many practical challenges. But we believe it is extremely important to communicate complex environmental issues in a way that is beautiful and easy to understand, using our own approach. To do that, we want to continue taking small but steady steps forward.”

When asked what the ocean means to them, Daniera and Christoph replied “People tend to think of the ocean as blue, but sometimes we see it in green, purple, or lilac, too. And no matter which colors you combine, there is always a sense of balance.” Listening to their answer, I felt that the ocean itself may be teaching us about the possibilities of harmony and collaboration through color.

RAW COLOR

Daniera ter Haar (born in the Netherlands in 1981) and Christoph Brach (born in Germany in 1979) are a design duo based in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Both graduated from Design Academy Eindhoven in 2007 and founded their studio the following year, in 2008. Working across graphics, textiles, photography, and product design, they explore the possibilities of “color” as the central axis of their practice. Alongside independent projects such as Temperature Textiles, they have provided design work for companies including IKEA, Kvadrat, SANCAL, Hermès and Van Gogh Museum. In Japan, they have collaborated with different textile manufacturers in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Prefecture, an initiative called Kyodo Project, and participated in projects for FUJI TEXTILE WEEK.
https://www.rawcolor.nl/
https://temperaturetextiles.nl/