A bold new hue is entering the design conversation – dubbed ‘olo’. This hue is an ultra-saturated blue-green that pushes the limits of how we perceive colour.
Olo was discovered in a recent scientific study undertaken by researchers at UC Berkeley and the University of Washington, when lasers precisely stimulated the retina’s green-sensitive cone cells in isolation – which is something that never happens in natural vision.
The result? A colour more vivid and intense than any teal or turquoise known to the eye until now!
While olo itself can’t yet be reproduced (yet) in paint, pigment or fabric, its visual character is being described as impossibly rich, piercingly clean and saturated with an otherworldly clarity. This offers fresh inspiration for designers and creatives seeking to elevate blue-green tones for the upcoming seasons and beyond.
Think of it as a more saturated version of teal – deeper, clearer and stripped of murkiness.
Expect to see this impact across high-gloss finishes, digital wearables, swimwear and activewear, where hyperreal hues can dominate. In the realm of fashion, olo cues tech-forward minimalism that can be perfect for sculptural silhouettes, accessories and statement details. In interiors, olo can be expected to translate beautifully into iridescent glass, lacquered surfaces or moody ceramics that play with light and saturation.
Olo may not yet exist in physical form, but its impact is already being felt in the creative imagination which indicates modern signal for innovation, vibrancy and a desire to break visual boundaries.
