Designer Rachel Berger was inspired by Michael Bierut’s 100 Day Workshop at the Yale School of Art. I cannot seem to find any info online about this workshop, but I am assuming it is a challenge to an artist to work 100 days straight with one theme. Berger’s exploration of color and writing and the emotional connection to color is pretty fascinating.

For 100 days straight she randomly chose a paint chip. Inspired by the color’s name and the actual color she then proceeded to write something, anything, inspired by her chip. On Design Observer she recently shared her favorite forty. The recollections are just enough to peak interest, but too little to pull you totally in. Case in point: #84, Straw Hat.

“I think I lived in a room, or maybe a whole apartment, painted this color. Is this the color of Julie’s apartment? My sense of recognition is as strong as my sense of disorientation. I don’t like this color, but I know this color, have awakened to this color, watched the sun crawl over it, nailed a picture hanger into it.”

These messenger bags created by Pantone are perfect for color fetishists. £45.00 here (currently out of stock in black, but available in blue or green). [Via]

Relatedly, Pantone selected “Mimosa” (No. 14-0848) as the 2009 color of the year, because it is “a warm, engaging yellow, as the color of the year for 2009. In a time of economic uncertainty and political change, optimism is paramount and no other color expresses hope and reassurance more than yellow.” View previous years’ selections here.

Mimosa also goes great with a roasted red peppers and mozzarella cheese omelette at brunch. Mmmm.