With Pantone's Color of the Year 2020 just around the corner, we take a look back at some of the most famous COTY's of the last 10 years, what they mean, and what we can expect from the upcoming Color of the Year.
In December, many of us start preparing for Christmas and the holidays that follow. In the design world, however, the last month of the year is important in a completely different sense, because a special announcement promises which color will have an extreme influence on color and design decisions for 2020:
Pantone’s “Color of the Year”.
In 2000, Pantone created the Color of the Year as a forward-looking concept for the entire brand, marketing and creative industries. When deciding on the color of the year, Pantone takes into account all aspects of society, such as fashion, marketing, social media, politics and also nature and the environment.
Here's a look at the Color of the Year selections so far from the last decade and the idea behind each shade.
2019: Living Coral 16-1546
An invigorating and life-affirming coral shade that represents environmental protection and the beauty of nature, such as coral reefs.
2018: Ultra Violet 18-3838
Ultra Violet is a dramatically provocative and thoughtful shade of purple that conveys originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking, leading us into the future.
2017: Greenery 15-0343
A refreshing shade of green that symbolizes the innate desire of today's modern, technology-dominated world to immerse itself in nature.
2016: Rose Quartz 13-1520 & Serenity 15-3919
A soothing color selection in two shades satisfies consumers' need for mindfulness and well-being; an antidote to today's stress.
2015: Marsala 18-1438
Marsala is a naturally robust and earthy wine red. A hearty yet stylish tone that is universal, appealing and easily implemented in fashion, beauty, home and interiors.
2014: Radiant Orchid 18-3224
An expressive, creative and comforting purple, Radiant Orchid stands out from the crowd to captivate the eye, stimulate the imagination and radiate great joy, love and health.
2013: Emerald 17-5641
Emerald is a bright green that enhances our well-being by awakening insights and promoting balance and harmony.
2012: Tangerine Tango 17 – 1463
Reminiscent of the radiant facets of a sunset, Tangerine Tango was chosen for its spirited reddish orange, giving us the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.
2011: Honeysuckle 18-2120 18-2120
Honeysuckle is a dynamic reddish-pink. An encouraging and uplifting shade, chosen for its captivating and stimulating properties that help ward off the blues during stressful times.
2010: Turquoise 15-5519
Combining the serene qualities of blue with the invigorating aspects of green, Pantone began the decade with turquoise, which evokes thoughts of calming, tropical waters and offers a soothing escape from everyday problems.
At the beginning of 2020, there was speculation about whether the new color would represent the current political climate, the new decade (repeating the 20s), or even a fun and appealing color to distract us from the difficult issues of modern life.
We're going to make some predictions; what do you think will be the new color of the year?
NEW COLORS, NEW POSSIBILITIES
In September 2019, Pantone introduced 294 new colors to offer designers a wider range of expression and give them the freedom to expand their creative possibilities with a total of 2,161 market-driven Pantone colors!
