Owning Colour

He explores our response to colour - whether it's the red soles of designer shoes, the blue strip of a football team or the purple of a chocolate bar wrapper - interviewing those involved in branding, advertising and IP, as well as the psychologists, scientists , colour gurus, artists and those creating the colours of tomorrow using Nanotechnology.

Programme 5 - Black

Whether black is a colour is debatable. Unlike colours which are created from the reflection of different wavelengths of light, black is created from the absorption of light. Wayne tells the story of Vantablack - the blackest black created which, unlike other blacks, absorbs all but a tiny (less than 0.04%) of light. Anish Kapoor has bought exclusive rights to the black. Wayne concludes the series by questioning the rights of colour ownership.

Producer: Sara Parker

A Juniper production for BBC Radio 4.

Wayne Hemingway tells the story of Vantablack, the blackest black.

Wayne Hemingway explores the artistic, commercial and cultural impact of colour.

He explores our response to colour - whether it's the red soles of designer shoes, the blue strip of a football team or the purple of a chocolate bar wrapper - interviewing those involved in branding, advertising and IP, as well as the psychologists, scientists , colour gurus, artists and those creating the colours of tomorrow using Nanotechnology.

Programme 2 - Blue

Blue is the world's favourite colour - we live on a blue planet. It's also the colour of Blackburn Rovers - Wayne Hemingway's home football team. It's associated not only with the beautiful game, but also with the town itself through a blue check for which Blackburn was famous. Wayne is in the stands to cheer his team on in a match against Manchester United - in red. He considers the importance of owning colour both in the commercial and artistic worlds.

Producer: Sara Parker

A Juniper production for BBC Radio 4.

Wayne Hemingway explores the artistic, commercial and cultural impact of colour.

He explores our response to colour - whether it's the red soles of designer shoes, the blue strip of a football team or the purple of a chocolate bar wrapper - interviewing those involved in branding, advertising and IP, as well as the psychologists, scientists , colour gurus, artists and those creating the colours of tomorrow using Nanotechnology.

Programme 3 - Green

Green is so ubiquitous that even the word has environmental, political and health meanings. It's used without limitation to boost the environmental credentials of businesses such as energy companies - notably BP. It's part of what some environmentalists calls 'green-washing', as green symbolises vegetation - grass, fields, farmlands. A current Royal Horticultural Society campaign, Greening of the Grey, aims to bring more green spaces to our towns and cities. Wayne visits RHS Wisley to meet Science Director Alistair Griffiths, gardeners and visitors to discover more about the power of green.

Producer: Sara Parker

A Juniper production for BBC Radio 4.

Wayne Hemingway explores the artistic, commercial and cultural impact of colour.

He explores our response to colour - whether it's the red soles of designer shoes, the blue strip of a football team or the purple of a chocolate bar wrapper - interviewing those involved in branding, advertising and IP, as well as the psychologists, scientists , colour gurus, artists and those creating the colours of tomorrow using Nanotechnology.

Programme 4 - Purple

From music to chocolate, purple has created its own brands. It appears the least in nature and its scarcity in everyday life led humans to link it with luxury and quality. Traditionally the chosen colour of royalty, dark purple has been fought over in the most famous of colour battles - Nestle vs Cadburys. The dispute over Pantone 2865c, the colour chosen by Cadburys over 100 years ago has been in and out of the courts for over a decade. Wayne uncovers our relationship to purple which, while being popular with teenagers, is also linked to death and mourning.

Producer: Sara Parker

A Juniper production for BBC Radio 4.

Wayne Hemingway explores the artistic, commercial and cultural impact of colour.

Designer Wayne Hemingway looks at five colours that have been at the centre of ownership and trademark battles, revealing the complex status of colours in our society - their artistic, commercial and cultural impact.

He explores our response to colour - whether it's the red soles of designer shoes, the blue strip of a football team or the purple of a chocolate bar wrapper - interviewing those involved in branding, advertising and IP, as well as the psychologists, scientists , colour gurus, artists and those creating the colours of tomorrow using Nanotechnology.

Programme 4 - Purple

From music to chocolate, purple has created its own brands. It appears the least in nature and its scarcity in everyday life led humans to link it with luxury and quality. Traditionally the chosen colour of royalty, dark purple has been fought over in the most famous of colour battles - Nestle vs Cadburys. The dispute over Pantone 2865c, the colour chosen by Cadburys over 100 years ago has been in and out of the courts for over a decade. Wayne uncovers our relationship to purple which, while being popular with teenagers, is also linked to death and mourning.

Producer: Sara Parker

A Juniper production for BBC Radio 4.

Wayne Hemingway explores the artistic, commercial and cultural impact of colour.

He explores our response to colour - whether it's the red soles of designer shoes, the blue strip of a football team or the purple of a chocolate bar wrapper - interviewing those involved in branding, advertising and IP, as well as the psychologists, scientists , colour gurus, artists and those creating the colours of tomorrow using Nanotechnology.

Programme 1 - Red

In 1980s, a company in America became the first to successfully trademark a colour. It was also the decade when Wayne Hemingway launched his fashion label Red or Dead, illustrated by a logo in a particular shade of red. Now he hopes scientists can re-create that colour in a paint laboratory in Slough, where they make trademarked colours such as Red Stallion and Roasted Red. Wayne explores the beginnings of colour ownership through a colour with two sides - love and passion or blood and aggression.

Producer: Sara Parker

A Juniper production for BBC Radio 4.

Wayne Hemingway explores the artistic, commercial and cultural impact of colour.

Designer Wayne Hemingway looks at five colours that have been at the centre of ownership and trademark battles, revealing the complex status of colours in our society - their artistic, commercial and cultural impact.

He explores our response to colour - whether it's the red soles of designer shoes, the blue strip of a football team or the purple of a chocolate bar wrapper - interviewing those involved in branding, advertising and IP, as well as the psychologists, scientists , colour gurus, artists and those creating the colours of tomorrow using Nanotechnology.

Programme 1 - Red

In 1980s, a company in America became the first to successfully trademark a colour. It was also the decade when Wayne Hemingway launched his fashion label Red or Dead, illustrated by a logo in a particular shade of red. Now he hopes scientists can re-create that colour in a paint laboratory in Slough, where they make trademarked colours such as Red Stallion and Roasted Red. Wayne explores the beginnings of colour ownership through a colour with two sides - love and passion or blood and aggression.

Producer: Sara Parker

A Juniper production for BBC Radio 4.

Wayne Hemingway explores the artistic, commercial and cultural impact of colour.