Colour of the year 2020 Classic blue Now that we’re well into the Roaring Twenties Redux, there’s good reason to feel a little blue. Twenty years ago, the Pantone Color Institute began its annual tradition of choosing a colour that would be a major influencer in fashion, home décor and design, travel, entertainment, technology, art, social media, sports and various industries. Colour experts are said to “comb the world” for indicators that determine the ‘it’ colour to watch for the year. That first year,
Cerulean became the 2000 shade of blue at the forefront. Twenty years and 21 colours later—2016’s Rose Quartz and Serenity (a shade of blue) shared the mantle—blue makes the cut again, a hue to bookend these two decades. This time, it’s a classic. Old, New, Borrowed, Blue So what particular kind of blue is this Classic Blue 19-4052? In the descriptors of Pantone publicists, it’s “trustworthy, dependable, stable and calming.” It’s the sky at dusk, that serene
Karin melberg schwier
Pantone color institute
deepening blue when the first star is visible. It’s a familiar yet enchanting shade that suggests a vast expanse of boundless possibilities. In a chaotic world, returning to a classic means a colour that is approachable and friendly. But this particular indigo is also full of new potential. Big talk and a lot of responsibility for a colour. Look around. Colour is big business. Beyond that, in a world of upheaval, uncertainty and unrest, being a calming influence means Classic Blue has its work cut out.
An Anchoring Azure Each year, Saskatoon HOME talks with Leatrice (Lee) Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, at her home office on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The Institute is a colour consultant unit that researches and forecasts global colour trends and advises various industries on brand identity. But what comes first? Is the trend toward a particular palette already on the global scene or does Pantone set the agenda for what will be
Saskatoon HOME spring 2020 |
33
