"Excel Conditional formatting simplification" Topic

Is there a way to simplify the number of conditional formatting conditions

So the spreadsheet C/F says
If Cell = "Dept 1" then [Format background Red]
If Cell = "Dept 2" then [Format background Blue]
If Cell = "Dept 3" then [Format background Green]

I am going to rewrite to
If Cell = A1 then [Format background Red]
If Cell = A2 then [Format background Blue]
If Cell = A3 then [Format background Green]

Can I use some sort of lookup for this

"Find the info associated with vale in cell, and format to that"

If it was in the sheet itself I could just do a Vlookup (Find value, and use column x across).

How do I do that in Conditional formatting?

Here's what I do:

Set up drop down list using Data Validation, then use conditional formatting. Very easy if you only have a handful of items on your dropdown, which I assume you do as there are only so many color combination.

I also had a blank row at the bottom so I can copy all the formatting into the spreadsheet at a later time if needed.

Using Data Validation already, with options in a separate sheet for ease of editing.

What I am after is instead of having one condition per option on the list, it finds the colour/format associated with that option.