DESIGNHOUSE
DESIGNHOUSE
DESIGNHOUSE
TREND FORECAST METHODOLOGY Based on fact, yet influenced by abstract conceptualization, color trend forecasting is both science and art. Like design, it serves dual purposes – to inspire and to inform, simultaneously. The Sherwin-Williams DesignHouse color trend methodology, based on the M3Trend process developed by our own Kiki Redhead, follows six steps: trend management, trend identification and research, trend analysis, trend watching, trendspotting, and trend reporting and application. Informed by a wide spectrum of sources from societal influences to sales data analyses, our methodology distills information from enduring global catalysts like culture, economy, environment and wellness.
INTRODUCING OUR LATEST TREND FORECAST Life experience is the foundation of great design. It informs who we were, who we are and who we will be. Most importantly, it shapes our perspective – the inward and/or outward expressions of our humanity.
Using our proprietary, science-and-art-based methodology, we examine the ever-evaporating boundary between the physical and digital world to predict the future of color. Intentionally, we pause & rewind, push play and fast forward.
As solution seekers, CMF and industrial designers are trained to use empathy as a crucial problem solving methodology. Understanding people – and their unique and shared perspectives – allows designers to anticipate what’s next. By having basic knowledge of how humans lived, live and will live, creators can invent products that enhance, improve and simplify the world around us. In Perspectives, my team of color experts at the SherwinWilliams DesignHouse explores how the past, present and future will influence color in product design 3-5 years from now.
Colorfully,
Kiki Redhead, CMG Global CMF & Trend Manager, DesignHouse
COUNCIL MEMBERS Hannah Seeb Marketing Communications
Amanda Pevito R&D Chemist
Rachel Schwen Color Scientist
Leah Novotny Industrial CMF Designer
Brynn Wildenauer Architectural CMF Designer
Grace Berry Content Manager
Sammy Morgan Project Manager
Justin Carolyne Graphic Designer
PROGRAM SUPPORT Adam Neff Creative Services Manager
Jacob Kostelnik Video & Photo Manager
Four hundred years ago, the word perspective was mainly used to describe spatial distance in art, but by the 18th century, its definition began to express a figurative state in addition to a physical position. In this trend forecast, professionals from various organizations share their individual viewpoints – or perspectives – on three macro-level trends that surround the concept of time. These projections look 3-5 years into the future and have been examined through a wide-angled lens that anticipates a post-pandemic world. Expertise, unique experience and captivating color connect in this year’s forecast to showcase the multidimensional nature of Perspectives, physically and metaphorically.
[ p e r - s p e k- t i v ] n ou n • t he state of one’s ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship (Dictionary.com) •a particular attitude toward something; a way of thinking about something (Oxford Learner’s Dictionary) •a n inward manifestation or outward expression of one’s views formed intentionally and/or subliminally through experience and gathered data (Sherwin-Williams DesignHouse)
sy no ny m s point of view, mindset, position, vision, stance, opinion
8
14
20
PERSPECTIVES A SWEEPING, CURATED LOOK AT PERSPECTIVES
THIS IS HOW WE: Thrive Survive Socialize
Innovate Consume Strategize
C ATA LY S T S : Beliefs, culture, economy, environment, ethics, government, humanity, individuality, society, science, transparency, uncertainty, wellbeing
Nostalgia is sparked by the senses. The subtle hum of a cassette tape rewinding. The electric glow of the family-room television. The slight grit of grandmother’s pearls. These are the sounds, sights and feelings of comfort that mark time. The past, whether it be the days of stained glass cathedrals, colonial blacksmiths or landline phones, is shared. Treasured collectibles, like school-day memories and community cookbook recipes, transcend time through stories, media and design. Drawn from the imagination or real-life experiences, retrospection prompts pause. It invites us to recall people, places and products in history that changed our way of living while simultaneously instilling warmth and security – cherished feelings we need in this ever-changing world.
HEAR FROM THE EXPERTS Peggy Van Allen, President of Color Marketing Group “When we look at nostalgia … it’s our history and our experiences. They make us who we are.”
Karl Bertilsson, Creative Director at NCS Colour “We can appeal to nostalgia if we understand where we are at in this trend cycle.”
Paul Haney, Industrial Design Director at General Electric Appliances “That’s what we do as industrial designers – solve problems.“
SEE THE INSPIRATION FOR PAUSE & REWIND
INDUSTRIES Small appliances, office furniture, architectural building products, plumbing fixtures, packaging, consumer goods
COLORS History leaves a lasting impression in the comfort and fondness of Pause & Rewind. The settling brown coolness of soil, peachy warmth of sand, and subtle gray veining of marble, paint the wistful landscapes of childhood memories. Preserved in the worn-leather journals of ancestors past, stored safely on sentimental wood-carved shelves, are tales of citrus green orchards and family melodramas that sparkle softly through the lens of nostalgia.
Sands of Time
Set in Stone
Per-spectacle
cultiv
vATE
Leatherbound
Heirloom
Dig Deeper
INDUSTRIES Small Appliances Office Furniture Architectural Building Products
Plumbing Fixtures Packaging Consumer Goods
Book the trip. Start the small business. Check off the bucket list. Seize the opportunity because today is nonrefundable currency. The most valuable jewels of life – social connection, exploration and shared experience – shine brightly after global disruption. Humanity has proven itself to be fluid and adaptable, seamlessly pendulating from the digital to the physical world with the help of science and design. Piloted by health, spirituality and a thirst for wellness, individuals, workplaces and communities catapult into action in hopes of creating a more utopian future. Enrolled in online Pilates class, check. Practicing mindfulness, check. Serving the community, check. Connected in our hybrid online and offline lives, we are thriving and living well. We are cannon-balling into a pool of life-enhancing possibilities.
HEAR FROM THE EXPERTS Paul Haney, Industrial Design Director at General Electric Appliances “People want to be expressive; and that could lead to more wild designs, more out-there designs.”
Peggy Van Allen, President of Color Marketing Group “It’s the subtleties within big cyclical changes that are important to corporations when figuring out product lines.”
Karl Bertilsson, Creative Director at NCS Colour “You want wellbeing in a city or an urban area. The more colors you have on the street, the more contrast … and the more people feel happy.”
INDUSTRIES Outdoor lifestyle, appliances, transportation, agricultural equipment, consumer goods, interiors, furnishings, packaging, sport utility, personal medical devices
SEE THE INSPIRATION FOR PUSH PLAY
COLORS Wildly daring yet mindfully humble, Push Play leaps into adventure. The flourishing blue depths of the ocean, accompanied by elemental shimmering golds and rosy coppers, capture the versatility of nature. Emboldened by the vigor of teal and confident optimism of yellow, physical and mental wellness thrive. As the ultimate form of currency, life experiences enrich the body and soul through the leafsprawled dirt of the forest floor and grounding connectivity of clay red.
Vagabon-voyage
Spirit-YOU-ality
Hybrid Humanity
Philia
Bio-fractal
Thrive
No. 2
INDUSTRIES
Outdoor Lifestyle Appliances Transportation Agricultural Equipment
Consumer Goods Interiors Furnishings
Packaging Sport Utility Personal Medical Devices
To invent is to imagine. Through vision and fantasy, ingenuity evolves, synergizing technology and humanity into one mystical multiverse. With time and space for both real and augmented experiences, the question becomes: what’s next? Via innovative artificial intelligence and cybernetics, the physical world and metaverse intertwine to create new opportunities in science, engineering and design that benefit humankind and the environment. Traveling to space for vacation, holographically attending school from your living room and cofunctioning with humanoid robots become possible. Tomorrow depends on today’s forward-thinking. Guided by celestial bodies, love or the allure of the unknown, we conceptualize and then build the infrastructures that bridge the gap between the ethereal heart, the data-based mind and the experimental technology of the future.
HEAR FROM THE EXPERTS Peggy Van Allen, President of Color Marketing Group “I think AI will be used more and more when it comes to forecasting trends. And that is new to the equation.”
Cathy Hackl, Tech Futurist & Metaverse Growth Strategist “When something happens in a virtual space, it doesn’t make it less real.”
Paul Haney, Industrial Design Director at General Electric Appliances “One of the advantages of VR is color. We can go through 5, 10 colors and get feedback, which helps speed up the design cycle.”
INDUSTRIES Medical devices, automotive, transportation, technology, aerospace, energy, consumer electronics
SEE THE INSPIRATION FOR FAST FORWARD
Quantum Leap
COLORS Like the crackling of a lightning bolt, Fast Forward electrifies the blue-black mysticism that surrounds parallel universes. As humanity and technology evolve together, power dynamics shift from black to red, but are balanced by a fresh yet familiar white-gold. Signifying an open mind immune to ignorance, a soft purple chroma seeks the silver lining of both earthly and celestial rainbows. The heart, sustained by a regenerative brown, welcomes a futuristic space that sparks progression.
Ephemeris
Meta vs.
Immun.know
Si-ber-net-iks
evoLve
Black to the Future
INDUSTRIES
Medical Devices Automotive Transportation
Technology Aerospace
Energy Consumer Electronics
Set in Stone
Sands of Time
Spirit-YOU-ality
Vagabon-voyage
Hybrid Humanity
Philia
Per-spectacle
Thrive
Bio-fractal
cultiv
No. 2
ATE
Heirloom
CLICK EACH TRIANGLE TO VISUALIZE THE COLOR Leatherbound
Dig Deeper
Immun.know
Quantum Leap
Ephemeris
Si-ber-net-iks
evoLve
Meta vs.
Black to the Future
COLOR E VOLUTION
REDS
ORANGES
2019+
2019+ ACCEPTANCE
REBEL HEART
TAKE ACTION
2020+
NOURISH
ESSENTIAL SELF
2020+ PSYCHE
BE MY NEIGHBOR
UKUMBI
2021+
RURBAN
PHOENIX RISING
SANDS OF TIME
BIO-FRACTAL
2021+ HYBRID HUMANITY
BLACK TO THE FUTURE
LEATHERBOUND
YELLOWS
GREENS
2019+
2019+ STAY GOLDEN
2020+
HAVEN
GROW UP!
TAG, YOU’RE IT!
METAMORPHOSIS
A-LICHEN-ING
GRASSROOTS
VAGABON-VOYAGE
THRIVE
CULTIVATE
2020+ ENRICHED
THE PAPER BAG
2021+
2021+ SPIRIT-YOU-ALITY
NO. 2
Explore the evolution of colors from A Spark of Familiarity and Own, our previous color trend forecasts, to new introductory colors within Perspectives.
BLUES
VIOLETS
2019+
2019+ TECHNO ELECTRO
PERSPECTIVE
IN THE MIDST
HIGH HOPES
BEYOND STELLAR
2020+
MARIANA’S TRENCH
MOVEMENT
BOOTES VOID
2020+ FILTERED FATE
TRASH MONEY
REWILDING
ANTHROAPOLOGY
RESILIENCE
2021+
METAMORPHOSIS
2021+ PER-SPECTACLE
THRIVE
META VS.
IMMUN.KNOW
WARM NEUTRALS
COOL NEUTRALS
2019+
2019+ IN TOUCH
SHINRIN-YOKU
NUDETRALITY
URBANEYES
2020+
2020+ INTERFACE
FOR[A]GE
EQUALITY
2021+
SENSORIUM
UNCERTAINTY
AUTHENTICITY
QUANTUM LEAP
SI-BER-NET-IKS
EPHEMERIS
2021+ HEIRLOOM
DIG DEEPER
PHILIA
EVOLVE
SET IN STONE
THAN K YOU, TA- COU M BA AIKEN ART + WO RK On behalf of the team at the Sherwin-Williams DesignHouse, we thank Ta-coumba Aiken for the extraordinary opportunity to connect his art to our work. As demonstrated in this color forecast, as well as everyday life, perspectives are unique to the eye of the beholder. The artist’s “Face to Face to Face” exhibit expresses the multifaceted and multidimensional story we set out to capture – reflecting this unparalleled time in history. With gratitude that extends beyond words and art, we thank you, Ta-coumba Aiken, for your creativity and inspirational perspective.
© 2021 Ta-coumba T. Aiken
TA- COUMBA T. AIKEN
“ I C R E AT E M Y A R T TO H E A L T H E H E A R T S A N D SOULS OF PEOPLE AND THEIR COMMUNITIES B Y E V O K I N G A P O S I T I V E S P I R I T. ” Ta–coumba is a Twin Cities artist, arts
and the City of Minneapolis. He has been the
administrator, educator and community activist
recipient of awards including a Pollock–Krasner
who focuses on public art and collaborative
Foundation Fellowship and a Bush Foundation
projects. His “rhythm paintings” on paper and
Visual Arts Fellowship. His painting entitled,
canvas are loose and lively. He has participated
“Forever Saint Paul” was awarded the Guinness
in the creation of over 300 murals and public
Book World Record for the most Lite-Brite
art sculptures with themes ranging from local
pegs ever used (596,000+) to create a painting.
history to the artist’s own style of rhythmic
This piece is permanently located in the Saint
pattern and spirit writing. The artist has
Paul Union Depot. His works can be found
served on the boards of the Minneapolis Arts
in public and private collections including
Commission, the African American Cultural
those of the Walker Art Center, The McKnight
Arts Center, Forecast Public Arts, and the
Foundation, General Mills, Herbie Hancock, Taj
St. Paul Art Collective and has acted as an
Mahal, and Maya Angelou.
advisor on the arts for both the City of St. Paul
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE IT The Sherwin-Williams DesignHouse is a unique space where teams convert inspiration into implementation. A first-of-itskind facility for the industrial sector, the DesignHouse – located in Minneapolis, MN – helps you bring new colors and products to market conscientiously and quickly.
VELOCITY PROGRAM Proposals to approvals, fast
EMBRACE COLOR A robust spectrum of possibilities
Our innovative Velocity Color Development Program shortens the distance between your concept and reality, expediting product development timelines and streamlining color creation. Our color experts work with you to achieve new, complex finishes and ensure color harmony across a range of technologies – delivering results in just a few iterations.
At DesignHouse, we understand the power of color. Dedicated to collaboration and driven by curiosity, our team is comprised of color authorities who provide expertise on how to produce finishes that consumers want. Together, we can formulate coatings that have the appearance and performance properties your products need.
SERVICES & WORKSHOPS - Half- or full-day sessions, customized up to 5 days Color Palette Analysis
Trend Forecast Presentations
Color Collection Curation Workshop
Trend Development Workshops
Color Marketing & Merchandising
Trend Methodology Seminars
Color Development Workshop
Custom Industry & Product Trend Directions
To schedule a trend forecast experience for your team, contact your Sherwin-Williams representative or email us directly at swdesignhouse@sherwin.com.
REFERENCES “Perspective.” Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/perspective. Accessed 26 July 2021. [pg. 5] “Perspective.” Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/perspective. Accessed 26 July 2021 [pg. 5]
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TREND FORECAST VOL. 3 © 2021 The Sherwin-Williams Company GI-399413-03 9/21
Colors shown are an approximate match.