I always thought the Pantone color of the year was just a marketing thing

I was reading a design blog yesterday and it said Pantone's color choice can actually shift global product design by over 30% in some industries. That's huge. It made me look at my own work and realize I'm subconsciously using their last pick, Peach Fuzz, in three current projects. Has anyone else noticed their color choices being swayed by these trends without even trying?

3 comments

3 Comments

kevinr2312d ago

Honestly that part about it shifting global product design by 30% is wild. Tbh I saw it happen in real time with that Viva Magenta year, where suddenly every tech startup's app icon was some shade of pink. It's not just paint chips, it's in the software we use every day.

webb.keith11d ago

Wait, you think it's just marketing? Look at what @kevinr23 said about app icons. It's a self-fulfilling thing where designers check the color to stay current, then it spreads everywhere. I fight it but still end up with those shades in my work too. It's kind of annoying how much power one company has over what we all see.

veramiller11d ago

Totally agree about the self-fulfilling cycle. It starts with a few big brands changing their packaging to match, then mid-level companies copy them to look trendy, and suddenly it's in every store aisle and website banner. I read that even car interiors and appliance finishes follow the trend now.