Ultimate Grey And Illuminating: Pantone Colour Of The Year 2021

The Pantone Colour of the Year is decided annually by Pantone’s colour experts after lengthy consideration and detailed trend analysis. Every year the colour experts search globally for new colour trends and influences. These influences can stem from a range of platforms, from web design to fashion to film. Whilst the origin of the Colour of the Year might vary, its influence is universal. The Pantone Colour of the Year has influenced product design and purchasing decisions in an endless amount of industries for the past 20 years. From the fashion industry to graphic design, the Colour of the Year plays a huge role in the creative decisions that are made in different industries.
So, without further ado, we’re delighted to reveal that the Pantone Colour of the Year 2021! For the second time since 2016, Pantone has announced a joint pairing of colours: PANTONE 13-0647, ‘Illuminating Yellow’, and PANTONE 17-5104, ‘Ultimate Grey’.

As the pandemic continues to disrupt our lives, the Pantone Colour of the Year 2021 is a message of hope for the future. Last year’s Colour of the Year, a regal ‘Classic Blue’ was a symbol of stability in uncertain times, and this year’s winner is a continued response to the current environment.

The first colour in this winning combination, Illuminating Yellow, can be described as a bright, optimistic, vibrant pastel shade. Yellow is often associated with sunshine, happiness and positivity, so you can see why they’d want to include an uplifting colour such as this. This isn’t the first time Pantone has opted for a vibrant choice with their Colour of the Year. In 2019, ‘Living Coral’ was chosen as a playful reminder of the joy of meaningful connection in a world that often feels overrun by technology and social media. Adopting similar qualities to this previous winner, Illuminating Yellow is a colour full of vitality, reminding us to look optimistically past this time of uncertainty and to remain positive in the face of the challenges which 2021 might throw at us.

Complementing its warm counterpart, the timeless sophistication of Ultimate Grey mellows the vibrancy of the yellow to create a more mature aesthetic. Rather than representing ‘the dark before the dawn’ or a dose of realism as a counterbalance to the optimistic yellow, Ultimate Grey was picked due to its resemblance to the colour of pebbles on the beach, whose worn appearance demonstrates their ability to withstand the test of time. With these qualities, the Ultimate Grey is symbolic of the stable foundation that we are all seeking in this year of uncertainty.

The combination of these two colours creates a united front. Sat side by side, Ultimate Grey and Illuminating Yellow portray an uplifting message, reminding us to remain resilient and hopeful as we carry on getting through 2021. It goes without saying that 2020 was a tumultuous year, so it makes sense that the Pantones of 2021 would reflect this but in a way that offers assurance and comfort. Pantone itself describes the pairing of these two colours of 2021 as “A marriage of colour conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting.”

An inspiring choice of winner, The Pantone Colour of the Year 2021 encourages us to keep thinking creatively and should encourage some exciting innovations in web design, graphic design, and other creative industries this year.
With such a powerful message behind the Pantone Colour of the Year 2021, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out for Ultimate Grey and Illuminating cropping up in fashion trends, graphic design, home furnishings, and also, social media… You can now share the Pantone colour of the year 2021 on Facebook and Instagram by using specially created filters- a fantastic way to share a positive message in 2021.

How Is The Pantone Colour Of The Year Chosen?

Pantone has carefully chosen a colour of the year, annually since the year 2000. Colours are not chosen at random, but by a meticulous and considered process in which the Pantone colour institute study many influencing factors occurring in the world at that chosen time. In making an annual selection, Pantone aims to forecast future colour trends for the following year. Sources behind the section can come from anywhere such as television, technology, social media and current affairs. Any significant event or occurrence happening in the world has the possibility of influencing the Pantone colour of the year. Further influences can be derived from films, destinations, art collections, fashion, lifestyle and socio-economic conditions.