Leatrice Eiseman

Leatrice Eiseman, head of the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training (Bainbridge Island, Wash.), has been called “the international color guru.” She has helped many companies make educated color choices for product development, logos and identification, brand imaging, web sites, packaging, point of purchase, interior/exterior design or any other application where color choice is critical to success. Eiseman was named one of the top 50 style-makers – first in color – by the trade publication Home Furnishings Now.

Born in Baltimore, Eiseman received a degree in psychology from Antioch College (Yellow Springs, Ohio) and, while working on a certificate from UCLA as a counseling specialist for adults, also completed programs in fashion and interiors. That led her into the fashion field in retail, then to teaching personal image programs.

Her life-long passion for color resulted in her doing research on the subject. She wrote her first book, “Alive With Color,” in 1983. “That book brought national attention,” she recalls, “and totally engaged me in my career in color.” She has recently upgraded it to “More Alive With Color” (Capital Books). Her most recent release is “Color Messages and Meanings: a Pantone Resource Book” (Handbooks Press). She has written six books and will soon have her seventh published.

For the second year in a row, Eiseman shares her professional insights and findings with VM+SD's International Retail Design Conference attendees. Here, she shares some of her personal insights with us.

What's the one-time Lee Eiseman fashion statement that now makes you cringe?

Eyeglass frames the size of a small TV – very 1980s.

What movie can you watch over and over and over again?

“Girl With a Pearl Earring” (the color was unbelievable). And “Best in Show” (we're dog people). Also, “My Cousin Vinny,” “Mighty Aphrodite” (and most of Woody Allen's others), “Enchanted April,” “Looking for Richard” (and anything with Al Pacino), also anything with Meryl Streep or Helen Mirren. My husband is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, so we get to see many of the great movies.

What color is your car?

Kind of a pewter-ized gold. I love the finish on it – very techno and sleek.

What's the dominant color in your home? And what does that say about you?

A mellow custardy yellow. It is friendly, warm, welcoming and nurturing – what a home should be. In addition, I live in the Northwest, where we have many gray days in winter, so a suggestion of sunlight on the walls is a good thing.

Least-favorite city?

Any place that doesn't have good, healthy, primarily organic food. You would think such fare is available everywhere now. I once asked for olive oil in a particular city, instead of butter, and they brought it in a glass so I could drink it!

You counsel countless clients on making educated choices of color. What's the first question you always ask them?

Who is the targeted consumer? And what is the message you want to convey?

What's the first question they always ask you?

How much do you charge?

What's the worst color decision you can recall someone making?

A big computer company said consumers would not buy computers in colors. So it opted not to use color and about a year later the iMac came out.

What's your favorite place to shop?

For clothing, high-end premium outlets. When I'm on the road, it's like a treasure hunt. And I still love a well-organized, great department store. You can't beat the selection and the presentation.

Why are color trends so unpredictable for the rest of us?

You need to make a study of it. Many people are aware of what is happening now, because of what they see in magazines, current displays, store windows. But you have to go beyond the current influences and look for future trends.

IRDC is in San Francisco this year. What's your favorite thing about that city?

The great appreciation for the arts and its wonderful Painted Ladies. Also, two of my kids live there!

You live on an island. Is it anything at all like Gilligan's?

Definitely. I own colorful sarongs and wear them all the time, especially in winter.