The Power of Color in a Duke Workday
From Duke Blue to bold florals, employees share how intentional color choices shape how they feel and think at work
In both, Powell explores the use of colors in art, along with the history and evolution of their meaning. Given his appreciation for color, it should come as no surprise that Powell’s office at Duke is a mishmash of items spanning the rainbow: green plants, posters and art items of all colors and the reddish-brown brick of Smith Warehouse in the background of it all. He had his choice of colors, and he could not choose just one.
“I find use for all of them in my world,” Powell said, “and I think most people are like that, too.”
Research shows that colors surrounding us can affect us in ways we might not realize, enhancing well-being and boosting alertness, productivity and socialization. Even in workspaces that can’t easily be changed, Duke colleagues find ways to add splashes of color, choosing hues they find soothing or simply love for brightening their space.
“It's not just what you can see, but what you can't see – which is the real surreal part – of what colors in the environment do,” Powell said.
See ways some Duke colleagues have added color to their workspaces.
Purple
Jasmine Wilson, Certified Medical Assistant, Growing Child Pediatrics, Knightdale
Jasmine Wilson has what she calls “the purple desk that calms little hearts.” Purple is her favorite color; she’s found it to be naturally soothing – and it’s splashed all over her desk at Growing Child Pediatrics Knightdale where she works as a Certified Medical Assistant. Wilson’s keyboard cover, her scissors, her stapler, her desktop organizer are all soft shades of lavender, which she says is associated with “calmness, gentleness and creativity.”
“It’s not overstimulating like bright red or yellow, and it’s not as serious as darker colors,” Wilson said. “Kids often respond to it with a sense of ease.”
Red, Yellow, Orange, Black
Seamus O’Reilly, Senior Director of Marketing at Duke Health Marketing
On the wall of Seamus O’Reilly’s home office is a vivid red and yellow painting of a Waffle House sign by a local folk artist. On his desk is a coaster inspired by the red and orange tones of The Overlook Hotel in the movie “The Shining.” Both are striking, but O’Reilly likes having each in his remote workspace in Savannah for different reasons.
O’Reilly was drawn to the painting by artist Panhandle Slim soon after moving to Savannah, where he now works remotely as a Senior Director of Marketing for Duke University Health System. All of the artist’s paintings are in bold and striking colors, but O’Reilly said the Waffle House one “leapt out” because it captured “an iconic American brand with that typical fast-food red, yellow and black branding.”
As for the orange and red coaster, O’Reilly said he’s simply been a big fan of Stephen King and appreciates how they mimic the iconic design of the carpet in the Stanley Kubrick film adaptation of King’s novel.
“I enjoy having the color in my eyeline and it adds interest to my otherwise white office,” O’Reilly said.
Rainbow Florals
Ginger Forsyth, Sourcing Analyst, Duke Procurement & Supply Chain
When Ginger Forsyth transferred from Duke Regional Hospital to the Pharmacy Procurement team in 2023, the first thing she asked about was decorating the walls. She said she basically had a “blank canvas to work with” and wanted it to feel “happy and encouraging.”
Inspired by the loss of a family member who adored yellow sunflowers, she used that as an anchor. Artist Carrie Richardson with Brightkind Creative “fit the vibe” she envisioned, and Forsyth requested a quote for the wall: “There are always flowers for those who want to see them,” by Henry Matisse. She and team members have added more vibrant florals as they see fit.
“Colorful florals make me happy and brighten up our workspace,” Forsyth said. “it's so delightful to go in the office and see the little floral oasis we created. I love it.”
Blue and Yellow
Anna Kourouniotis, Database Analyst, Data Compliance & Reporting, Duke University Office of the Registrar
When Anna Kourouniotis works remotely from her home office, she starts each day with what she calls a “creative jump-start.”
Just soaking in the cool blues and pops of mustard yellow in the floral mural that she painted on the white wall of what was once her walk-in closet sets the tone for her day.
“Those bold, sketchy lines somehow wake up the design part of my brain before I even open my laptop,” Kourouniotis said.
Kourouniotis, a Database Analyst, works with data visualization and often considers how the environment affects the way she thinks. When she’s surrounded by color and organic shapes, she tends “to take more playful risks with layouts and palettes.”
“Something about the mural reminds me to balance clarity with creativity,” she said.
She finds that her “creativity corner” boosts her energy, with blue conjuring thoughtfulness and yellow reflecting creativity and energy.
Rainbow Flowers
Melanie C. Gordon, Director of Let the Children Come Initiative, Duke Divinity School
Each Sunday, Melanie C. Gordon typically picks up dinner. At the same time, she chooses how she’s going to color her office for the week.
As she’s selecting her weekly meal, Gordon, Director of Let the Children Come Initiative at Duke Divinity School also picks out a bouquet of flowers that will brighten her office desk. It’s never the same color, but it’s always something that speaks to her.
“Sometimes seasons guide my choice, but more often, I go with the bouquets that reflect whatever is bringing me joy at the moment,” Gordon said. “On busy or tough days, just taking a quick glance at a little piece of creation, even when I can’t step outside and be in nature, helps me catch my breath and keep it moving. On good days, I look over at my little bouquet and smile even wider.”
Duke Blue
The specific shade of Duke Blue is everywhere on the university and hospital campuses. Research shows blue is a stable and calming color, universally known as an excellent hue for inspiring productivity and focus.
To truly drown yourself in Duke Blue, bask in the mat and walls of the Wilson Recreation Center’s Duke Wrestling room or the glow of field hockey’s Williams Field at Jack Katz Stadium on East Campus – two of the Duke Blue-est places around.
But Powell, the art professor, thinks Duke workspaces should include more than just Duke Blue.
“My advice to people is to be aware and conscious of the world that surrounds them and think about how chroma and color is a part of that world that is wonderful and at the same time, fascinating,” Powell said.
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