The Daily Palette's goal is to heighten interest, awareness and appreciation of the visual arts and writing through recognizing the efforts of Iowa-identified artists and communities. The Daily Palette features the work of a different writer or artist every day. The project has for over six years provided a means for the public to view a diverse range of artwork through the display of images, texts and streaming video. The project began in conjunction with the Year of the Arts & Humanities in 2004-2005, when a team from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences School of Art & Art History Intermedia Area developed the Daily Palette to combine Intermedia's art & technology research with a broad public information effort. Since its inception in 2004, the Daily Palette has featured the work of over 2100 Iowa artists working in the visual arts, writing, film and music.

The Daily Palette features subcollections in collaboration with other organizations throughout the University of Iowa and the state including "Iowa Writes". Since 2006, "Iowa Writes" has featured the work of Iowa-identified writers on the Daily Palette, and it has recently expanded its scope to include work published by Iowa journals and publishers. Curated by the staff of the Iowa Review, "Iowa Writes" features poetry, fiction or nonfiction several times a week on the Palette.