I’ve created quite a few Colour Palettes over the years, but this is a first.
To celebrate International Day of Birmingham, I’ve brought Birmingham UK and Birmingham, Alabama together in one design.
The Birminghams Colour Palette features six colours inspired by each city, creating a 12-colour gradient stretching from Barons Black in Alabama to Sabbath Black in Birmingham UK.
There’s Sloss Rust for the extraordinary Sloss Furnaces, Sweet Tea Amber, Fried Tomato Green, Vulcan Grey and Cahaba Lily White.
Then we cross the Atlantic for Old Bus Cream, Mr Egg Yellow, Jewellery Quarter Gold, Tikka Red, The Bull Bronze and Sabbath Black.
As ever, the CMYK print values are included on the design, so graphic designers and interior designers can use the colours themselves.
There’s a brilliant little thread running through the story, too.
Joe Lycett took one of my original Birmingham Colour Palette tea towels to Alabama while filming United States of Birmingham. He even wore it on his head, which certainly wasn’t something I’d considered when designing it.
That programme celebrated the growing friendship between our two Birminghams, so when International Day of Birmingham came along I just had to create something.
The finished palettes will be signed by the mayors of Birmingham UK and Birmingham Alabama and displayed in their respective mayoral suites.
Seeing something I designed here in Brum become a small part of the friendship between two cities is a proud moment.