2020 Color of the Year
In December, Pantone announced its Color of the Year for 2020: Classic Blue. Officially Pantone 19-4052, Classic Blue is described by the company as a “universal favorite” offering “a reassuring presence instilling calm, confidence and connection.”
Pantone was born in the 1950s in New York initially as a printing company while the Pantone Color Institute was founded to assist companies make strategic decisions about color for their brands and products. Its proprietary color matching system (PMS) was created in 1963, evolving into the industry standard in printing, graphic design and fashion.
The organization has chosen a Color of the Year since the turn of the century based on a thoughtful in-house research process that takes into account lifestyle and industry trends. The winning shade can be influenced by a myriad of inputs including art, media, socioeconomics, the political climate, travel and technology to name but a few.
The color for 2019 was the “animating and life-affirming” Living Coral but as we enter a new decade, Pantone chose a hue that “brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge.”
Explains Pantone’s Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman on motivating factors for this year’s color, “We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on.”
Eiseman continues, “A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication.”
Classic Blue comes full-circle to the inaugural Color of the Year in 2000, Cerulean. As we entered the new millennium, the world was uncertain and this shade asked the question, “Is the world going to crumble?” while 2020’s Classic Blue inquires, “What will happen next?” Over its twenty years, there have been seven blue tones, eight red-orange-pink hues, two green, one yellow, a beige and a brown tone. The complete list with color swatches can be found here.
Pantone claims that Classic Blue is already being embraced in numerous industries such as fashion, graphic design, textiles and interior design. As its name implies, it embodies a rich sophistication that can be used throughout one’s home. Classic Blue lends itself well to floor tile, cabinetry, accent wall color, bedding, throw pillows, entry doors and rugs. As you enter into this new decade, we invite you to experiment with this lush and reassuring hue in your home.
