Twice a year, in a secret meeting, the Pantone Color Institute hosts representatives from various nations’ color standards groups. After two days of presentations and debate, they choose the upcoming Color of the Year. And since 2000, they’ve offered a whole new take on color theory: one that draws on influences from art, film, nature, and socioeconomic conditions to pinpoint a shade that perfectly connects with the zeitgeist. Read more on how you can uplift space within your home in luxurydefined, the online magazine of Chritie’s International Real Estate.
A studio apartment in London designed by 2LG Studio. Image: Megan Taylor
For 2021, they’ve selected two colors: Illuminating, a bright, bold yellow; and Ultimate Gray, a strong, stable companion (PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating). These shades, Pantone says, are independent but complementary. It’s a combination that represents mutual support, strength, and optimism—and is certainly one that taps into the current mood for creating a bright, uplifting spot within our homes. Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute comments this years’s color selection: “Together, the solid Ultimate Gray and the radiant Illuminating convey a positive message of inner strength. Practical and robust, yet also warming and optimistic – this is a color combination for hope and resilience. Strength and confidence are nourishment for the human soul.”
The Pantone Color Institute is the business unit within Pantone that highlights the top seasonal runway colors, selects the Pantone Color of the Year, forecasts global color trends, and advises companies on color for product and brand visual identity. Through seasonal trend forecasts, color psychology, and color consulting, the Pantone Color Institute partners with global brands to effectively leverage the power, psychology, and emotion of color in their design strategy.
