Is Sioux Falls scared of color?

Chromophobia is the persistent, irrational fear of color. Clinical diagnoses are rare, but this term is often used in relation to product design. Now, I am making this statement: Sioux Falls is chromophobic. Look at the buildings, the cars, the roads, the lack murals. With a massive spectrum of possibilities, our color pallet is artificially limited.

Now, you might be saying, “But, Jordan, we have some amazing quartzite structures with purple and pink hues.” Well, yes, we do have some buildings with some amazing materiality, especially those built around the turn of the century. Huffpost even called Sioux Falls “America’s Pinkest City.”

When one starts to look at structures built post WW2, you begin to see a trend towards earth tones… and that’s about it.

To help make my case, I am taking an unscientific, but fairly effective approach: grab pictures from the area and pick out the most prominent colors present on structures. I am doing this by using the browser app Adobe Color, and there is an Iphone and Android version available, as well. So, if you disagree with the idea that Sioux Falls is chromophobic, please, prove me wrong! I’d love to know where all the colorful hidden gems are hiding in SF.

1. Overlooking Downtown

2. Philips Avenue

3. Denny Sanford Premier Center

4. The Empire Mall

5. Midco Aquatic Center

6. Roosevelt High School

7. Sioux Falls Airport

8. Sanford USD Medical Center

9. Avera on Louise

10. Froiland Science Complex

This is one that I actually really like and would love to see more colors (and forms) on more buildings.

11. A Pink House (Because we do like pink)

To be completely honest, it’s not so much that we are afraid of color. Our aversion to particular color families may have more to do with our fear of making the wrong choice. To choose something bold is to potentially make the mistake of selecting a color that offends. It is to do something risky. In that risk, however, can come great reward.

What are your thoughts on our local color palette? What are some examples that break the norm? You can message me at jordanjdeffenbaugh@gmail.com or leave links in the comment section.