The Colour of Seeing — What Colour Reveals About the Way We Experience the World
Originally published on NOVISALI on August 22, 2026, as the introduction to The Colour of Seeing photographic essay series.
Why are we drawn to certain colours at particular moments? Why do some evoke memories, inspire trust or create a sense of belonging, while others invite reflection or transformation?
The Colour of Seeing explores how colour shapes our perceptions, emotions and understanding of the world. Bringing together photography, art, psychology, philosophy and cultural observations, this growing series of nine photographic essays examines colour as something far more meaningful than an aesthetic choice.
From blue’s invitation to wonder and green’s reflections on growth, to warm white’s associations with memory and belonging, each colour opens a different conversation about human experience. In a world increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence and technological acceleration, the series also asks what the human act of seeing reveals that technology alone cannot capture.
Reflections
We often think of colour as something we observe, select or use to express ourselves. Yet colours also influence how we remember places, connect with others and interpret the world around us.
Working with photographs collected over time, I began to notice how seemingly unrelated images formed unexpected relationships when brought together through colour. What started as a visual exploration gradually became a reflection on attention, perception and meaning.
Perhaps learning to see differently begins with slowing down. By noticing colours, their relationships and the feelings they evoke, we may discover something not only about the world around us, but also about ourselves and the times we live in.
The Message
Colour is not simply something we see. It is one of the ways through which we experience, remember and make sense of the world.
In an age of accelerating technology, the ability to pause, observe and find meaning in what surrounds us becomes increasingly valuable. Art and photography remind us that seeing is not merely recognising what is there, but remaining open to what we have not yet noticed.
What colours are you drawn to at this moment in your life, and what might they reveal about what matters to you?
Read the full reflection here
The Colour of Seeing — NOVISALI
About Liselotte Engstam, Digoshen & Novisali
Liselotte Engstam is an explorer of perspectives, an adventurer of ideas, a pathfinder of meaning, and a guide of timeless transitions. She bridges the worlds of board leadership and art, helping organizations and individuals navigate disruption while nurturing creativity and reflection.
As founder of Digoshen, she works with boards and leaders to expand future insights and reduce digital and sustainability blindspots. Through research, networks, and executive programs, Digoshen supports responsible value creation in the digital and sustainable age, contributing thought leadership via books, articles, events, Digoshen Exploring Leaders podcast, and blogs.
She also serves as Chair of the Boards Impact Forum in collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Climate Governance. The Forum convenes board members, thought leaders, and experts in dialogues, webinars, and collaborative events, accelerating action on climate, AI, and sustainability.
Through her artistic practice as Novisali, Liselotte explores creativity and meaning. Her watercolors, digitally reimagined, invite reflection and renewal, offering perspectives that connect head, heart, and hand, and complementing her work with leaders and boards.
→ Discover more at www.Digoshen.com
→ Learn more at www.BoardsImpactForum.com
→ Find more about Liselotte at www.liselotteengstam.com and her Google Scholar page
→ Explore Liselotte’s art and reflections at www.novisali.com and follow on Instagram @novisali_arts