Pantone 2021 Color of the Year

Pantone Color of the Year

 

For the second time in Pantone’s history, two colors were selected as “Color of the Year”: the neutral Ultimate Gray and vibrant Illuminating Yellow. “It’s a combination that speaks to the resilience, the optimism and hope and positivity that we need, as we reset, renew, reimagine and reinvent,” said Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute.

The Selection Process

For over 20 years, fashion designers, home furnishing curators and everyone in between look to the Pantone Color of the Year for inspiration in the following year. So, a lot of time and thought goes into selecting just the right color. The Pantone Color Institute combs through a variety of industries looking for trends that could inspire the year’s color. Influences might come from socio-economic conditions, upcoming sporting events, art collections, you-name-it. Overall, the color sets the tone for the following year and after a year like 2020 we could all use something to look forward to!

All about Ultimate Gray & Illuminating Yellow

Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute stated, “The union of an enduring ultimate gray with the vibrant yellow illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude, practical and rock-solid, but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit.” Yellow, the most luminous of all the colors, captures our attention more than any other color. Gray, however, is the color of complexity–everything that falls in between absolutes. Gray is easily overlooked, but it’s quite a fascinating color if you look a little deeper.

Use Ultimate Gray & Illuminating Yellow in Your Sales Collateral

One of our favorite jobs as a hotel marketing agency is telling a brand’s story. How? Selecting the right colors and patterns are just one piece of the puzzle. If Ultimate Gray or Illuminating Yellow fits into your brand, or might work for an upcoming event, let us help you incorporate it!