IACC ♦ An Interdisciplinary Approach to Color
IACC-NA International Association of Color Consultants
Thanks to the IACC International Association of Color Consultants for providing this information about the organization.
The International Association of Color Consultants (IACC) was founded in Hilversum, Holland in 1957, bringing together around 50 architects, designers, scientists, and artists from 12 countries. The motivation was clear — there was a serious shortage of professional color consultants and no formal training to address it.
In 1958, Dr. Heinrich Frieling — a renowned color authority, psychologist, biologist, and philosopher — established the IACC's interdisciplinary education and accreditation program, known as the Salzburg Seminars for Colour and Environment, held in Salzburg, Austria.
The program expanded to the United States in 1991, with a presence in San Diego, California. In 2000, author and international lecturer Frank H. Mahnke became the second IACC President, founding both an Asian branch — the IACC School for Colour and Interior Design in Nagoya City, Japan — and the American Information Center for Color and Environment in San Diego. In 1994, graduates of the San Diego courses established the North American chapter, known as IACCNA, now referred to as IACC-NA.
Today the IACC also advises universities internationally on how to structure their curriculum around color in the built environment.
The Unique IACC Educational Program
The educational program of the IACC is important in two significant areas.
- First of all, it serves as a prerequisite for a student's competent command and understanding of the laws of color. This includes understanding human reaction to the architectural environment.
- Moreover, the IACC International Association of Color Consultants program also aims toward the shaping of color professionals who have comprehensive capabilities in all areas of knowledge necessary to create beneficial and purposeful environments.
Ultimately, it is this understanding that further satisfies and guides the client's design goals.
An Interdisciplinary Approach to Color
The IACC education is unique for providing an interdisciplinary approach to design and color education.
Among the subjects are scientific findings on visual ergonomics, psychosomatics, neuropsychology and psycho-physiology, as they relate to the design of the architectural environment.
This type of material is not presented in traditional architecture or interior design programs. Moreover, this interdisciplinary approach is just one of the noteworthy strengths of the IACC and the IACC accredited color consultant/designer.
Individuals are internationally accredited by the IACC International Association upon completion of important features of the program.
Among these features are:
- fulfillment of all course requirements, with presentation and acceptance of design assignments
- an oral examination
- an approved and evaluated thesis bases on original research.Upon successful completion the individual is then designated as IACC qualified Color Consultant/Designer.Thereby the IACC has set the guidelines, criteria and accreditation for the profession of (IACC) Color Consultant/Designer.