Color Factory

INSPIRATION

Color Factory is an immersive museum dedicated to the joy of color: part interactive art installation, part playground for the senses. Originally launched as a pop-up in San Francisco, the concept quickly gained a devoted following and expanded to permanent locations in New York, Houston, and Chicago.

From the beginning, Color Factory has relied on Whitestone to help translate its bold, playful, and highly Instagrammable identity into tangible products. Over the years, we’ve partnered on retail merchandise, giveaways, experiential activations, and custom uniforms, ensuring every touchpoint reflects the vibrancy of the brand.

Client
Color Factory

Year
2019 – Present

PLAN

Our goal has been to create merchandise and apparel that not only looks beautiful but becomes an integral part of the Color Factory experience itself. We approached retail with the vision of designing pieces that function as take-home art–items guests would eagerly use, wear, and display long after their visit. Meanwhile, our staff uniforming needed to seamlessly blend into the vibrant environment while strengthening brand identity through every interaction.

Beyond our core offerings, we developed themed product collections for special activations like Colors in Bloom and Haunted Hues. These seasonal collections allow us to align merchandise with evolving experiences while incorporating city-specific elements that connect each location to its local community.

PRODUCT

Over the years, our work with Color Factory has included:

RETAIL MERCHANDISE: Evergreen items like custom charm bracelets (with location-specific charms), pencils, pinwheels, and color-themed keepsakes designed to delight visitors.

THEMED ACTIVATION PRODUCTS: Limited-run items for seasonal events such as Colors in Bloom and Haunted Hues, including wooden color-blocked accessories, playful giveaways, and immersive in-exhibit props.

UNIFORMING: Branded apparel for staff, thoughtfully designed to complement the museum’s palette while ensuring comfort and wearability. Uniforms became part of the visual storytelling, reinforcing the brand in every guest interaction.

EXPERIENCE GIVING: Items like custom glasses that guests use within the exhibits, blurring the line between merchandise and interactive installation.

RETAIL MERCHANDISE

UNIFORMS

EXPERIENCES & ACTIVATIONS

RESULTS

Through a multi-year collaboration, Whitestone has helped Color Factory:

Our partnership has grown alongside Color Factory itself, from a single pop-up to a multi-city destination, weathering challenges like COVID while continuing to deliver vibrant, memorable merchandise and apparel that keep the magic of Color Factory alive long after guests leave.

  • Establish a cohesive, instantly recognizable merchandise program across all locations.

  • Elevate the guest experience by integrating branded products directly into interactive exhibits.

  • Drive consistent retail sales through evergreen items while generating excitement with seasonal and city-specific launches.

  • Strengthen brand presence through uniforms that align with the creative environment and reinforce the museum’s playful aesthetic.