Peachy Prospects: Embracing 2024’s Color of the Year
Laurie Pressman, VP of Pantone, says that the inspiration for the Color of the Year is everywhere.
We may only be 9 days into 2024, but one thing is certain; this year is going to be peachy. At least according to the Pantone Color Institute, who announced in December that the Color of the Year for 2024 is Peach Fuzz. If you’re wondering how to use this campaign to your advantage, McConnell Marketing has some tips and tricks for you!
History of Color of the Year
Pantone announced their very first Color of the Year in 2000. Pantone 15-4020, better known as Cerulean Blue, was the shade of the new millennium. While the Color of the Year didn’t immediately catch on, as the world shifted more online, Pantone has unofficially become a trendsetter in more than just the graphic design industry. Cell phones, interior paint colors and the runway all turn to Pantone for inspiration on new shades of products.
“Anything and everything taking place in our culture during the year can influence our Pantone Color of the Year selections, with each source carrying a different weight from year to year depending on what’s taking place in our culture at that time.”
A decade ago, tech did not have a huge role in choosing a shade, however things have shifted gears. “Gaming, social media, augmented and virtual reality, and physical design itself are all influenced by our technology and the colors we can access in the digital environment,” she continues.
The sentiment for this year’s color was something we instinctively search for as humans; unity.
“In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connections, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless,”
Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of Pantone
How to Use Peach Fuzz
So how are some brands embracing the warm fuzzies this year? Polaroid is releasing instant film packs with a Peach Fuzz border, Motorola has announced 2 limited edition phones in the color and UltraFabrics released interior color palettes and virtual campaigns that show customers how to tie Peach Fuzz into their homes. Three very different companies in very different industries (along with so many others) are leaning into the Color of the Year with limited collections that tie into emotional marketing with the meaning behind Peach Fuzz.
Social media campaigns that feature established trends are easy to adopt. Here are a few ways you can use Peach Fuzz. Try these by themselves or combine them:
- A cross-platform social media campaign – A few photos featuring the Color of the Year and sharing stores of how your company has brought people together and embraced connection.
- Temporary Rebrand – Change your social media profile photos to a shade of Peach Fuzz for a week or two.
- Product Mockups – Turn one (or some) of your products Peach! Just for fun of course; this is a more affordable way to join the big global companies without actually redesigning your product.
- Interactive Campaign – Include a hashtag and interact with posts to foster your community. Invite your audience to share stories of what it means to connect with the people around you.
As with any campaign, analyze your performance and discuss what could have been done better and plan for next year.
The great thing about Pantone’s Color of the Year is that it occurs annually and is a great way to get more engagement. While we don’t know 2025’s shade, using your Peach Fuzz campaign as a template can get you ahead of the curve when the announcement comes.
If you or your business needs help with your marketing efforts, contact us at 330-286-0487 to get started. Also, don’t forget to follow us on all of our social platforms. Stay up to date on our monthly newsletters, full of more helpful tips and tricks!
