How ugly and boring computers were. And how beige they were. With some exceptions (IBM used gray colours), the computing world was dominated by functional designs, and the idea these computers conveyed was that they were fundamentally useful for working.

In some exceptional cases, such as the 1998 iMac G3s with translucent colors or the elegant black of the legendary ThinkPad, manufacturers did not make their lives difficult.

The designs of traditional computers began to revive with the turn of the new millennium, and for almost a decade we have experienced an explosion of formats and colors that have finally made our computer something we want to show off rather than hide.

But of all the design decisions manufacturers have made in the first two decades, there’s one that stands out in particular: why did almost all of them adopt the color beige?.

The answer remains a mystery today, but there are various theories that attempt to explain this design decision that marked the first decades of the computer’s existence.

Germany didn’t want loud computers

One of the most interesting is the article explaining how Germany perhaps had a hand in this. In the book ‘ThinkPad: A Different Shade of Blue’, authors Deborah Dell and Gerry Purdy tell us how. IBM was an unlikely hero in the world of PC design They stopped using the color beige and while talking about it, they mentioned:

“In the late 1970s, Germany introduced work regulations requiring “light” colors on office computer equipment; this rule was soon adopted by other European and Scandinavian countries. By the 1980s, all gray or non-dirty offerings had been virtually eliminated. Costs and there are white people in the IT industry because of European labor standards.

When IBM decided to differentiate itself and produce its laptops in black, there was resistance from IBM Germany, and the company was even discussing the possibility of releasing a dark gray model for this market. In the end, this possibility was eliminated and IBM division in Germany surrendered to that black color Even though ThinkPads clearly state that a warning should be added to the user manual stating “this product is not intended for office use.”

They followed this lead on GameStar and found documents from the Federal Archives (Bundesarchiv) and the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (Bundesanstalt für Arbeitsschutz und Arbeitsmedizin). One of the pages – pictured – states some recommendations for the brightness and contrast of computer screens in office environments.

Thus, it was discussed that the brightness and contrast of the screen should be between 20% and 50%, reflectometry measurements should be used in accordance with the DIN 67530 standard, and it was also stated that these parameters can be determined using filters. Meets furniture design standards and internal structure.

But there is also a certain part that reveals the reflection in the color design of the display cases It should be between 15% (darker colors) and 75% (brighter colors). For this reason, it was aimed to use neutral colors that do not reflect or absorb much light in furniture and office elements.

Other documents, such as the DGUV regulation No. 215-410 published by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), also mention these sections and recommendations on screens in workplaces and their placement.

All this suggests that these neutral colors are advocated in Germany. Another neutral color could have been chosen, but beige was apparently an ideal candidate to comply with these recommendations and regulations.

When beige is a premium (and cheap) color

However, it seems difficult to imagine that the German country could have such an influence on the decisions of the rest of the world, and especially computer manufacturers based in the United States or heavily influenced by trends emerging in the United States. that country.

Image: Jonny Caspari (Unsplash).

In fact, Apple also adopted this color for its computers – there is talk of “Apple beige”, which some identify with Pantone 453 – and beige tones also dominated 16-bit computers such as the Amiga 500 or Atari ST. But we must not forget that the beige color also escapes some great products. Among others, we can mention the legendary Sinclair ZX Spectrum; But of course: it wasn’t a computer for office workers.

Other theories suggest that the color beige was chosen for two reasons. The first and most important was that a pigment was needed to give color to plastics that were colorless and transparent from the factory. Beige was a particularly cheap option compared to othersAn important thing when it comes to producing millions of computers.

Secondly, this color was quite neutral, but above all it allowed us to hide dirt and dust better than colors such as white or black. The latter are elegant, like those we see on our mobile phones, but are often a magnet for fingerprints and dust particles on their cases, making them noticeable.

Possible psychological advantages are also mentioned. Beige is associated with a sense of calm, simplicity and security, but it is also true that it has a touch of a dull and “lazy” color.

That was probably a good reason to actually implement it on computers in the early days. They aimed to win millions of company employees. Of course, so that they can work, not so that they will be surprised by the noisy designs and colors that will break the monotony of those offices.

It doesn’t matter if the PSX is grey. It was great.

What is interesting is that this “boring” color (or its equally monotonous varieties) is also beginning to be used in other segments of technology. Consoles like the SNES, Dreamcast or the original PlayStation didn’t exactly stand out with the color of their cases.

We now consider beige to be an old-fashioned and boring color for our computers, but believe me: in the 80s and 90s, this was not the case, and for many it was not the case. beige color was a clear distinguishing feature of a “premium” product.

The colors that define such products have changed over time—thankfully gold is dead, champagne pink is now just pink—but it’s easy to understand why what we see today is different. A few years ago it was very different: fashion is changing a lot. They are coming back too, be careful.

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