Pantone’s Colors of the Year

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Claire Cho, Staff Writer

It’s a new year which means Pantone has announced this year’s colors! Art directors and researchers at Pantone carefully choose the color that will predict the trend in upcoming years. This year, Pantone has set the mood for 2021 with the colors Ultimate Gray and Illuminating, two complementary colors that come together to emphasize the beauty of each other. A color that can seem somewhat dull by itself is brought to life with a bright yellow pop, and a color that may appear too bold at times is balanced out by the mellow gray. The combination of PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating is one of power and positivity. 

Here’s what Pantone says about the colors of the year:

As people look for ways to fortify themselves with energy, clarity, and hope to overcome the continuing uncertainty, spirited and emboldening, shades satisfy our quest for vitality. PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power. PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray is emblematic of solid and dependable elements which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation. The colors of pebbles on the beach and natural elements whose weathered appearance highlights an ability to stand the test of time, Ultimate Gray quietly assures, encouraging feelings of composure, steadiness and resilience.”

This warm yet strong pairing of colors is a great match to uplift our spirits throughout the ongoing uncertainty of events. 

Furthermore, Pantone is also known for influencing color trends in the markets of fashion, furniture, product packaging, graphic design, and more. Each year, Pantone’s color experts search the world looking for new color trends to come to a decision, which can involve upcoming films, art galleries, rising designers, all aspects of design, the changing lifestyles of people, and socioeconomic matters. 

Ultimately, if Pantone’s Color of the Year is assumed to reflect the relationship between color trends and current events, we can hope that after a gloomy year of lockdown, we will get a warm summer filled with sunshine.