´óÏó´«Ã½

Raise Your Game: What was your pathway into this career?

Bernay Laity: At school art was one of my favourite subjects, and I remember a school report once commenting on 'my particular use of colour'. After spending time at college on a foundation course in art studies I left to explore the world of work.

I largely spent time in careers related to the fashion and cosmetics industries before training and practising as an interior designer. Here I developed my love of colour and also began to become curious about why clients picked the colours that they did. It seemed to me that this was something beyond interior fashion.

I began to notice that colour could have a profound effect on a person's wellbeing. I undertook quite an extensive self-study programme and signed up for a course with the world-renowned colour psychologist Angela Wright.

RYG: What qualifications do you need?

BL: No specific qualifications are needed, just a love of colour! Although an art or design related background and training does help.

RYG: What skills do you bring to this role?

BL: Customer service based skills. You need to be able to communicate with people from different backgrounds effectively, and make them feel at ease in your company as colours can raise certain emotions, and also a background in design studies and skills.

It's a very diverse role and sometimes you might be dealing with sensitive environments, such as my work with the National Autistic Society and Probation Services.

RYG: What do you enjoy about this job?

BL: The diversity of the projects that I might be asked to become involved in, but all are linked by colour. For example, I might be training some professionals and consultants, advising on colour in the environment, in business communications or for personal use. Colour is all around us!