( Photos via Pantone )
The start of the decade has been filled with excitement as 2020 unfolded until the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic hit us hard, worsened by the disasters caused by climate change.
As another year begins, new hope arises with recent developments of vaccines to fight off the ‘unseen enemy’, and with the scientific community and nations joining forces to solve the health and climate crisis to restore the world to a ‘better normal’.
These realities we look forward to are reflected with the 2021 Colors of the Year: ‘Illuminating’ (yellow) and ‘Ultimate Gray’. The announcement was done on Twitter weeks before the holidays by Pantone, the leading global color authority known for influencing color trends every year.
The union of color “expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude”. Pantone Color Institute executive director Leatrice Eiseman further describes the combination as “practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic” which gives resilience and hope, saying, “We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit.”
According to the color authority’s website, PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating resembles sunshine—a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, while PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray represents natural elements that provide foundation with the ability to stand the test of time despite their weathered appearance.
Color experts at Pantone thoughtfully consider and analyze trends across multiple industries including fashion, travel, lifestyle, and all areas of design during the selection process. Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in different industries for more than 20 years.
(Photos via Pantone)
Although the company usually chooses one Color of the Year, 2021 is not the first time with a color combination, as 2016 had Rose Quartz and Serenity to promote gender equality.
Want to share the Colors of the Year to kick off 2021 in a rather fun way? Try their Facebook and Instagram filters!
Happy New Year, everyone!