Presenting, THE Color of the Year for 2022: Very Peri! Or: Laurel Leaf. Nope, it’s actually Starting with the Who, Pantone launched the idea of Color of the Year way back at the tail end of the last century. Announced in 1999, Cerulean was the first chosen Color of the Year. This marketing ploy was a brilliant way to pump new life into the vast world of color. The idea expanded across industries, influencing everything from clothing to furniture to home trends, decades before the idea of an influencer was on scene. The concept has been so widely embraced that now there are several colors of the year released by every color company that you have heard of, and quite a few that you haven’t.
So, who is the who behind the Who? Is there some bunker of color specialists out there playing “Pin the Tail on the Next Color of the Year”? Or, is there an airy oceanside mansion where elite designers and artists gather to test hundreds of colors on all kinds of medium, waiting for the perfect color to make itself known? The answer is a blend of these two extremes. The Pantone company website states: “Twice a year Pantone hosts, in a European capital, a secret meeting of representatives from various nations' color standards groups. After two days of presentations and debate, they choose a color for the following year.”
A secret meeting of unnamed experts?! Days of presentations and debate somewhere in a mystery city in Europe?! The Color of the Year is big business!
What does it mean? For a concept to have staying power, there must be some substance that resonates with people. The Color of the Year is a visual depiction of where we are as a society. Brilliantly, can be seen as both a reflection of where we have been, or a forecast of what lies ahead. The original Color of the Year, Cerulean is a calm and pleasing shade of blue. If defined as color that reflects society, 1999 was a year of hopeful anticipation toward completing the 20th century. If seen as a color shape the future, Cerulean can be seen as the calm needed after the dramatic panic of Y2K.
2002 strikes me as another noteworthy year that can be demonstrated in color. After the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001 the world was filled with anger and unrest. Appropriately, True Red was chosen as the color of 2002. This fiery tone reflects on a most devastating attack on American soil, and takes us forward to the beginnings of war. What could be more fitting than True Red? Fast forward to 2021, we have an interesting twist to the trend by naming two Colors of the Year. Ultimate Gray and Illuminating, colors that demonstrate the dichotomy of despair and hope. By the end of 2020, society felt the grayness of despair for the unrelenting persistence of the COVID-19, but also was illuminated by hope that the tools available to humanity could power through the crisis.
The examples go on and on. A marketing stunt that turned into an annually anticipated event, a reflection of society and a guide to navigating the future, the Pantone Color of the Year has rightfully earned its place in the world of design. Once you know the color, I promise you will see it everywhere! Here are some of my favorites that have come out so far this year:
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| Birdie Hall Brush Pots |
These colorful, smooth crystal tumblers by House of Cardoon are a great way to add some Veri Peri to your life without much of a commitment.
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| The Little Lumbar |
I adore this lovely lumbar pillow from the Little Design Co.! It's perfect to add a pop of color to any room in the house. The greek design detail is versatile to mix with anything from a formal living to a beach house back porch. The deep blue is a great combination to the Pantone color of 2022!