diff --git a/images/group_default.png b/images/group_default.png
deleted file mode 100644
index 6b503e9ff..000000000
Binary files a/images/group_default.png and /dev/null differ
diff --git a/js/background.js b/js/background.js
index 094d63fee..567e1d83f 100644
--- a/js/background.js
+++ b/js/background.js
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@
     'folder-outline.svg',
     'forward.svg',
     'gear.svg',
-    'group_default.png',
     'hourglass_empty.svg',
     'hourglass_full.svg',
     'icon_1024.png',
@@ -731,7 +730,6 @@
           profileName: displayName,
           pubkey: ourNumber,
           avatarPath,
-          avatarColor: conversation.getColor(),
           onOk: async (newName, avatar) => {
             let newAvatarPath = '';
             let url = null;
@@ -1065,7 +1063,6 @@
           profileName: displayName,
           pubkey: userPubKey,
           avatarPath,
-          avatarColor: conversation.getColor(),
           isRss: conversation.isRss(),
           onStartConversation: () => {
             Whisper.events.trigger('showConversation', userPubKey);
diff --git a/js/models/conversations.js b/js/models/conversations.js
index e2be0e221..87843e33f 100644
--- a/js/models/conversations.js
+++ b/js/models/conversations.js
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
     UNRESTRICTED: 3,
   };
 
-  const { Util } = window.Signal;
   const {
     Conversation,
     Contact,
@@ -571,7 +570,6 @@
     getProps() {
       const { format } = PhoneNumber;
       const regionCode = storage.get('regionCode');
-      const color = this.getColor();
       const typingKeys = Object.keys(this.contactTypingTimers || {});
 
       const result = {
@@ -579,7 +577,6 @@
         isArchived: this.get('isArchived'),
         activeAt: this.get('active_at'),
         avatarPath: this.getAvatarPath(),
-        color,
         type: this.isPrivate() ? 'direct' : 'group',
         isMe: this.isMe(),
         isPublic: this.isPublic(),
@@ -2526,14 +2523,6 @@
       return this.get('type') === 'private';
     },
 
-    getColor() {
-      if (!this.isPrivate()) {
-        return 'signal-blue';
-      }
-
-      const { migrateColor } = Util;
-      return migrateColor(this.get('color'));
-    },
     getAvatarPath() {
       const avatar = this.get('avatar') || this.get('profileAvatar');
 
@@ -2549,19 +2538,17 @@
     },
     getAvatar() {
       const title = this.get('name');
-      const color = this.getColor();
       const url = this.getAvatarPath();
 
       if (url) {
-        return { url, color };
+        return { url };
       } else if (this.isPrivate()) {
         const symbol = this.isValid() ? '#' : '!';
         return {
-          color,
           content: this.getInitials(title) || symbol,
         };
       }
-      return { url: 'images/group_default.png', color };
+      return { url: null };
     },
 
     getNotificationIcon() {
diff --git a/js/models/messages.js b/js/models/messages.js
index 6e444ef22..4da827afc 100644
--- a/js/models/messages.js
+++ b/js/models/messages.js
@@ -414,7 +414,6 @@
       const regionCode = storage.get('regionCode');
 
       const contactModel = this.findContact(phoneNumber);
-      const color = contactModel ? contactModel.getColor() : null;
       let profileName;
       if (phoneNumber === window.storage.get('primaryDevicePubKey')) {
         profileName = i18n('you');
@@ -426,7 +425,7 @@
         phoneNumber: format(phoneNumber, {
           ourRegionCode: regionCode,
         }),
-        color,
+        color: null,
         avatarPath: contactModel ? contactModel.getAvatarPath() : null,
         name: contactModel ? contactModel.getName() : null,
         profileName,
@@ -565,7 +564,6 @@
       const contact = this.findAndFormatContact(phoneNumber);
       const contactModel = this.findContact(phoneNumber);
 
-      const authorColor = contactModel ? contactModel.getColor() : null;
       const authorAvatarPath = contactModel
         ? contactModel.getAvatarPath()
         : null;
@@ -599,7 +597,6 @@
         serverTimestamp: this.get('serverTimestamp'),
         status: this.getMessagePropStatus(),
         contact: this.getPropsForEmbeddedContact(),
-        authorColor,
         authorName: contact.name,
         authorProfileName: contact.profileName,
         authorPhoneNumber: contact.phoneNumber,
@@ -764,7 +761,6 @@
 
       const { author, id, referencedMessageNotFound } = quote;
       const contact = author && ConversationController.get(author);
-      const authorColor = contact ? contact.getColor() : 'grey';
 
       const authorPhoneNumber = format(author, {
         ourRegionCode: regionCode,
@@ -794,7 +790,6 @@
         authorPhoneNumber,
         authorProfileName,
         authorName,
-        authorColor,
         onClick,
         referencedMessageNotFound,
       };
diff --git a/js/modules/loki_app_dot_net_api.js b/js/modules/loki_app_dot_net_api.js
index 4ade77836..c506e87fa 100644
--- a/js/modules/loki_app_dot_net_api.js
+++ b/js/modules/loki_app_dot_net_api.js
@@ -1424,7 +1424,7 @@ class LokiPublicChannelAPI {
           value: {
             name: 'Your Public Chat',
             description: 'Your public chat room',
-            avatar: 'images/group_default.png',
+            avatar: null,
           },
         },
       ];
diff --git a/js/views/contact_list_view.js b/js/views/contact_list_view.js
index 106598813..631ec390d 100644
--- a/js/views/contact_list_view.js
+++ b/js/views/contact_list_view.js
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
           Component: window.Signal.Components.ContactListItem,
           props: {
             isMe,
-            color: this.model.getColor(),
             avatarPath: this.model.getAvatarPath(),
             phoneNumber: this.model.getNumber(),
             name: this.model.getName(),
diff --git a/js/views/conversation_view.js b/js/views/conversation_view.js
index 165ac3032..eb57925da 100644
--- a/js/views/conversation_view.js
+++ b/js/views/conversation_view.js
@@ -165,7 +165,6 @@
           name: this.model.getName(),
           phoneNumber: this.model.getNumber(),
           profileName: this.model.getProfileName(),
-          color: this.model.getColor(),
           avatarPath: this.model.getAvatarPath(),
           isVerified: this.model.isVerified(),
           isMe: this.model.isMe(),
@@ -279,7 +278,6 @@
           name: this.model.getName(),
           phoneNumber: this.model.getNumber(),
           profileName: this.model.getProfileName(),
-          color: this.model.getColor(),
           avatarPath: this.model.getAvatarPath(),
           isGroup: !this.model.isPrivate(),
           isPublic: this.model.isPublic(),
diff --git a/js/views/edit_profile_dialog_view.js b/js/views/edit_profile_dialog_view.js
index b96eabfec..cb1996753 100644
--- a/js/views/edit_profile_dialog_view.js
+++ b/js/views/edit_profile_dialog_view.js
@@ -8,21 +8,13 @@
 
   Whisper.EditProfileDialogView = Whisper.View.extend({
     className: 'loki-dialog modal',
-    initialize({
-      profileName,
-      avatarPath,
-      avatarColor,
-      pubkey,
-      onOk,
-      callback,
-    }) {
+    initialize({ profileName, avatarPath, pubkey, onOk, callback }) {
       this.close = this.close.bind(this);
 
       this.callback = callback;
       this.profileName = profileName;
       this.pubkey = pubkey;
       this.avatarPath = avatarPath;
-      this.avatarColor = avatarColor;
       this.onOk = onOk;
 
       this.$el.focus();
diff --git a/js/views/user_details_dialog_view.js b/js/views/user_details_dialog_view.js
index 98c164691..d86340cfb 100644
--- a/js/views/user_details_dialog_view.js
+++ b/js/views/user_details_dialog_view.js
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
     initialize({
       profileName,
       avatarPath,
-      avatarColor,
       pubkey,
       isRss,
       onOk,
@@ -23,7 +22,6 @@
       this.pubkey = pubkey;
       this.isRss = isRss;
       this.avatarPath = avatarPath;
-      this.avatarColor = avatarColor;
       this.onOk = onOk;
       this.onStartConversation = onStartConversation;
 
diff --git a/ts/components/Avatar.tsx b/ts/components/Avatar.tsx
index 3c30a6c30..b84c1c202 100644
--- a/ts/components/Avatar.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/Avatar.tsx
@@ -86,11 +86,8 @@ export class Avatar extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
         />
       );
     }
-    console.warn(
-      'renderNoImage should not happen with something else than a closed group'
-    );
 
-    return <div className={classNames('module-avatar__icon')} />;
+    return this.renderIdenticon();
   }
 
   public render() {
@@ -121,7 +118,7 @@ export class Avatar extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
         }}
         role="button"
       >
-        {hasImage ? this.renderAvatarOrIdenticon() : this.renderNoImage()}
+        {hasImage ? this.renderImage() : this.renderNoImage()}
       </div>
     );
   }
@@ -133,12 +130,6 @@ export class Avatar extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
     }
   }
 
-  private renderAvatarOrIdenticon() {
-    const { avatarPath } = this.props;
-
-    return avatarPath ? this.renderImage() : this.renderIdenticon();
-  }
-
   private getAvatarColors(): Array<string> {
     // const theme = window.Events.getThemedSettings();
     // defined in session-android as `profile_picture_placeholder_colors`
diff --git a/ts/components/ContactListItem.tsx b/ts/components/ContactListItem.tsx
index 2796dcb7d..0cf81a6f4 100644
--- a/ts/components/ContactListItem.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/ContactListItem.tsx
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ interface Props {
   phoneNumber: string;
   isMe?: boolean;
   name?: string;
-  color: string;
   verified: boolean;
   profileName?: string;
   avatarPath?: string;
diff --git a/ts/components/EditProfileDialog.tsx b/ts/components/EditProfileDialog.tsx
index 11a72966e..065490bcb 100644
--- a/ts/components/EditProfileDialog.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/EditProfileDialog.tsx
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ interface Props {
   i18n: any;
   profileName: string;
   avatarPath: string;
-  avatarColor: string;
   pubkey: string;
   onClose: any;
   onOk: any;
diff --git a/ts/components/UserDetailsDialog.tsx b/ts/components/UserDetailsDialog.tsx
index 4b75af776..db566a323 100644
--- a/ts/components/UserDetailsDialog.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/UserDetailsDialog.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ interface Props {
   isRss: boolean;
   profileName: string;
   avatarPath: string;
-  avatarColor: string; //fixme audric toremove
   pubkey: string;
   onClose: any;
   onStartConversation: any;
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/CreateGroupDialog.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/CreateGroupDialog.tsx
index 3ae0fa1b0..9ea4baa47 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/CreateGroupDialog.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/CreateGroupDialog.tsx
@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ export class CreateGroupDialog extends React.Component<Props, State> {
         authorProfileName: name,
         selected: false,
         authorName: name, // different from ProfileName?
-        authorColor: d.getColor(),
         checkmarked: false,
       };
     });
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/InviteContactsDialog.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/InviteContactsDialog.tsx
index 871c6f0e8..3268564a3 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/InviteContactsDialog.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/InviteContactsDialog.tsx
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ export class InviteContactsDialog extends React.Component<Props, State> {
         authorAvatarPath: d?.cachedProps?.avatarPath,
         selected: false,
         authorName: name,
-        authorColor: d.getColor(),
         checkmarked: false,
         existingMember,
       };
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/MemberList.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/MemberList.tsx
index d2121e3a2..0ea697af2 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/MemberList.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/MemberList.tsx
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ export interface Contact {
   authorProfileName: string;
   authorPhoneNumber: string;
   authorName: string;
-  authorColor: any;
   authorAvatarPath: string;
   checkmarked: boolean;
   existingMember: boolean;
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/Message.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/Message.tsx
index d82c6a8f2..510910539 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/Message.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/Message.tsx
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ export interface Props {
   authorProfileName?: string;
   /** Note: this should be formatted for display */
   authorPhoneNumber: string;
-  authorColor?: ColorType;
   conversationType: 'group' | 'direct';
   attachments?: Array<AttachmentType>;
   quote?: {
@@ -88,7 +87,6 @@ export interface Props {
     authorPhoneNumber: string;
     authorProfileName?: string;
     authorName?: string;
-    authorColor?: ColorType;
     onClick?: () => void;
     referencedMessageNotFound: boolean;
   };
@@ -585,7 +583,6 @@ export class Message extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
   public renderQuote() {
     const {
       conversationType,
-      authorColor,
       direction,
       i18n,
       quote,
@@ -599,8 +596,6 @@ export class Message extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
 
     const withContentAbove =
       conversationType === 'group' && direction === 'incoming';
-    const quoteColor =
-      direction === 'incoming' ? authorColor : quote.authorColor;
 
     const shortenedPubkey = window.shortenPubkey(quote.authorPhoneNumber);
 
@@ -621,7 +616,6 @@ export class Message extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
         authorPhoneNumber={displayedPubkey}
         authorProfileName={quote.authorProfileName}
         authorName={quote.authorName}
-        authorColor={quoteColor}
         referencedMessageNotFound={quote.referencedMessageNotFound}
         isFromMe={quote.isFromMe}
         withContentAbove={withContentAbove}
@@ -668,7 +662,6 @@ export class Message extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
       authorProfileName,
       collapseMetadata,
       senderIsModerator,
-      authorColor,
       conversationType,
       direction,
       i18n,
@@ -1052,7 +1045,6 @@ export class Message extends React.PureComponent<Props, State> {
   public render() {
     const {
       authorPhoneNumber,
-      authorColor,
       direction,
       id,
       isKickedFromGroup,
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/ModeratorsAddDialog.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/ModeratorsAddDialog.tsx
index 71ad9cd38..c97b6a869 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/ModeratorsAddDialog.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/ModeratorsAddDialog.tsx
@@ -51,7 +51,6 @@ export class AddModeratorsDialog extends React.Component<Props, State> {
         authorProfileName: name,
         selected: false,
         authorName: name,
-        authorColor: d.getColor(),
         checkmarked: false,
         existingMember,
       };
@@ -97,7 +96,6 @@ export class AddModeratorsDialog extends React.Component<Props, State> {
           authorAvatarPath: '',
           selected: true,
           authorName: this.state.inputBoxValue,
-          authorColor: '#000000',
           checkmarked: true,
           existingMember: false,
         });
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/ModeratorsRemoveDialog.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/ModeratorsRemoveDialog.tsx
index 85d830938..bc00b10d7 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/ModeratorsRemoveDialog.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/ModeratorsRemoveDialog.tsx
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ export class RemoveModeratorsDialog extends React.Component<Props, State> {
         const lokiProfile = d.getLokiProfile();
         name = lokiProfile ? lokiProfile.displayName : 'Anonymous';
       }
-      const authorColor = d.getColor ? d.getColor() : '#000000';
       // TODO: should take existing members into account
       const existingMember = false;
 
@@ -44,7 +43,6 @@ export class RemoveModeratorsDialog extends React.Component<Props, State> {
         authorProfileName: name,
         selected: false,
         authorName: name,
-        authorColor,
         checkmarked: true,
         existingMember,
       };
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/Quote.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/Quote.tsx
index cf9a27c9e..3737817b9 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/Quote.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/Quote.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ interface Props {
   authorPhoneNumber: string;
   authorProfileName?: string;
   authorName?: string;
-  authorColor?: ColorType;
   i18n: LocalizerType;
   isFromMe: boolean;
   isIncoming: boolean;
@@ -365,7 +364,6 @@ export class Quote extends React.Component<Props, State> {
 
   public render() {
     const {
-      authorColor,
       isIncoming,
       onClick,
       referencedMessageNotFound,
diff --git a/ts/components/conversation/UpdateGroupMembersDialog.tsx b/ts/components/conversation/UpdateGroupMembersDialog.tsx
index a8f60afd9..97ce71de7 100644
--- a/ts/components/conversation/UpdateGroupMembersDialog.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/conversation/UpdateGroupMembersDialog.tsx
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ export class UpdateGroupMembersDialog extends React.Component<Props, State> {
         authorAvatarPath: d?.cachedProps?.avatarPath,
         selected: false,
         authorName: name, // different from ProfileName?
-        authorColor: d.getColor(),
         checkmarked: false,
         existingMember,
       };
diff --git a/ts/components/session/ActionsPanel.tsx b/ts/components/session/ActionsPanel.tsx
index 16ad70c82..a8f1ea8f7 100644
--- a/ts/components/session/ActionsPanel.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/session/ActionsPanel.tsx
@@ -122,7 +122,6 @@ export class ActionsPanel extends React.Component<Props, State> {
     onSelect?: (event: SectionType) => void;
     type: SectionType;
     avatarPath?: string;
-    avatarColor?: string;
     notificationCount?: number;
   }) => {
     const handleClick = onSelect
diff --git a/ts/components/session/SessionClosableOverlay.tsx b/ts/components/session/SessionClosableOverlay.tsx
index 3977aa86f..342859376 100644
--- a/ts/components/session/SessionClosableOverlay.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/session/SessionClosableOverlay.tsx
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@ export class SessionClosableOverlay extends React.Component<Props, State> {
         authorAvatarPath: d.avatarPath,
         selected: false,
         authorName: name,
-        authorColor: d.color,
         checkmarked: false,
         existingMember,
       };
diff --git a/ts/components/session/SessionMemberListItem.tsx b/ts/components/session/SessionMemberListItem.tsx
index 7a07d20d9..7497800b5 100644
--- a/ts/components/session/SessionMemberListItem.tsx
+++ b/ts/components/session/SessionMemberListItem.tsx
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ export interface ContactType {
   authorProfileName: string;
   authorPhoneNumber: string;
   authorName: string;
-  authorColor: any;
   authorAvatarPath: string;
   checkmarked: boolean;
   existingMember: boolean;