How to Keep a Color Journal — and See the World Differently

“They say that color is a whole other language,” says Jaana Beidler. “It’s one without any words, that connects intuitively and deeply with us. It carries a lot of emotions.”

Color is a language that Jaana, as a senior director of color design at Nike, is fluent in — and one she wanted to keep speaking with her tight-knit team when they started working remotely due to the pandemic. Having read that journaling often helps people process difficult times and moments of crisis, Jaana had an idea to do the same…except with her own twist.

“Words, at least from me, don’t come easy. I think in colors,” says Jaana. “So instead of writing a journal, [keeping a] color journal seemed like something that would be more impactful for us.” And so, Jaana invited members of her team to start documenting visuals that struck them in their day-to-day lives. At home and around their neighborhoods, they began to see subtle beauty in everyday details: high-vis road signs standing out in a natural setting, a vibrant pink flower decaying over days, the bright blues and greens of tennis courts and soccer fields sitting empty and unused — and so much more.

Watch the video above to learn color journaling methods from Jaana and other Nike designers, and hear about the mental and emotional benefits this creative practice can offer. Below, find a step-by-step guide, sample entries from the group, and a template to help you start a color journal of your own.

Once you have your image or objects, build a palette by selecting individual colors that catch your attention. You can use traditional tools like markers, paints, colored pencils — or go digital on your computer or phone, using an app with a color dropper tool.

The magic is what your eyes and cursor are drawn to, says Chiyo. “Depending on where you click, the colors are so different, so you do have to use your intuition and what feels right to you that summarizes what you’re seeing. It’s definitely a process of editing that’s involved.”

“For me, it’s almost like analyzing and challenging my own ideas,” adds Jaana. “I have noticed over the years that I gravitate toward certain things. I’m trying to get out of my own comfort zone. I’m pulling colors that are not the typical ones that I usually go to.”

Next, name your colors, based on your own experience and reflections. It’s also where the fun comes in for Courtney Dailey, a product design VP at Nike. “[It’s] a way to be a bit cheeky sometimes,” she says. Some examples from the group? Closed Down Brown, Rotting Rainbow Chard and Plastic Flamingo Pink — just to name a few.