Description :
Project Colourjack is borne out of a combination of designers’ frustrations in knowing what material are on the market, and the challenges facing the manufacturing industry in connecting with designers.
The object is to produce a Central, Online, Visual, Material library. Once a designer knows what material they need to fulfil the physical requirements (ie. type of plastic / glass / fabric) they need to determine the appearance.
The library will be divided by materials, and the manufacturers who supply that material. Once the designer (once they prove they are from a bona-fide design firm) selects their choice, the manufacturer will then post out samples (and a few additional shades to allow for screen variation).
It will allow designers to go to a central website for materials, whilst cutting down on the requirement for bulky, expensive and soon outdated hardcopy catalogues in designer’s offices, giving a substantial positive environmental impact.
It will also allow material suppliers to reach all sizes of design firm, and overcomes the limitations of "industry standard" schemes such as Pantone, which can only approximate colours, and cannot show patterns.
Time and traveling expense will be saved with sales representatives, who no longer need to travel to offices to discuss materials samples.
The selections on screen will be items that CAN be made by suppliers, not just approximations. It will depend on partnering with chemical companies, colourant manufacturers, fabric suppliers, paper mills... any material that has an effect on appearance. Generally these companies are large entities that can afford to divert some of their traditional marketing budget to supporting PROJECT COLOURJACK through subscriptions.
Finally, Colourjack allows any materials - once selected - to be placed on screen next to each other, even if they are from different suppliers. Exactly like how a designer works with traditional materials.