Discover the vibrancy of Pantone Colour of the Year 2021. Explore the significance and influence of this iconic colour in our comprehensive guide.
Each year, Pantone’s colour experts at the Pantone Colour Institute comb the world for new colour influences, analysing trends across industries, technology, and global events to select Pantone's Colour of the Year.
Every year, Pantone—a global authority on color standardization—announces its Colour of the Year, with pantone's colour and pantone's color serving as central elements in global design trends. For 2021, Pantone selected two shades: Pantone 17-5104, Ultimate Grey, and Pantone 13-0647, Illuminating. These independent colours symbolise strength and optimism, reflecting how different elements can support each other. Illuminating is described as a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity. At Bean Bags R Us, we’re excited to introduce these trending colours into our range of indoor and outdoor polyester bean bags. Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2021 perfectly captures the spirit of hope and resilience as the world moves beyond the pandemic.
How Pantone Revolutionised Colour Referencing in the Fabric Industry
For designers, accurate color referencing is essential. Pantone transformed the industry in 1963 with the Pantone Matching System (PMS), providing a universal language for colour communication. PMS assigns unique codes to over 10,000 colours, enabling consistent reproduction across textiles, interiors, beauty, and industrial design. The evolution of Pantone's systems has been further enhanced by new technologies, which have enabled even greater accuracy and consistency in colour reproduction. Before Pantone, colour standards were vague and inconsistent, leading to production errors and brand confusion. Lawrence Herbert, who joined Pantone in 1956, recognised the need for precision and bought the company in 1962. His vision led to the creation of the first colour-matching system, allowing manufacturers worldwide to reproduce colours accurately and consistently.
Thank You, Lawrence Herbert
Herbert's innovation eliminated inconsistencies in product colours, helping brands like Coca-Cola maintain their signature shades globally. Pantone's flipbooks, featuring blocks of colour, became the industry standard. By distributing these guides worldwide, Pantone established itself as the go-to reference for colour, except in Japan. The system's widespread adoption made Pantone the de facto standard for colour in design and manufacturing.
Pantone Colour Systems: PMS and FHI
Pantone offers two main systems: the Pantone Matching System (PMS) for print, packaging, and digital design, and the Pantone Fashion, Home + Interiors (FHI) system for textiles, soft goods, and coatings. PMS is ideal for graphics and packaging, while FHI caters to the needs of interior designers and apparel manufacturers. Pantone’s systems ensure colour consistency across different materials and industries, helping businesses make confident, colour-critical decisions.
Relevant social media platforms also play a significant role in spreading and amplifying Pantone's colour trends across industries.
Pantone Colour of the Year 2021: Meaning and Impact
Pantone’s Colour of the Year initiative, launched over 20 years ago, has turned color trends into global phenomena. For over 20 years, Pantone’s Colour of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions across multiple industries. The selection process involves thoughtful consideration and trend analysis, drawing from influences in film, fashion, technology, travel, and lifestyle. The Pantone Colour Institute also considers influences from the entertainment industry, socioeconomic conditions, and relevant social media platforms. The goal is to choose colours that capture the mood of the times and inspire designers worldwide. The chosen colour combination encapsulates deeper feelings, reflecting resilience and hope, and stimulates intellectual curiosity among designers and consumers.
Previous Years
In 2020, Classic Blue 19-4052 reflected the sombre mood of the pandemic, while 2017's Greenery 15-0343 highlighted environmental awareness. Other notable colours include Radiant Orchid (2014), Marsala (2015), and Living Coral (2019). Pantone's annual selection process is secretive, with representatives from global colour standards agencies meeting to debate and decide the next trend-setting shade. Designers use Pantone's choices to guide product development and stay ahead of consumer preferences.
Ultimate Grey and Illuminating: The Dual Colours of 2021
For the first time in over a decade, the Pantone Colour Institute selected not one, but two independent colours as the Colour of the Year 2021: PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Grey and PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating. This thoughtful pairing is more than just a visual statement—it’s a reflection of the times, combining a rock-solid, dependable foundation with a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity. Ultimate Grey, known for its firm foundation and quiet strength, represents resilience and composure, while Illuminating brings a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power, radiating positivity and hope. Together, these two colours convey a message of happiness, supported by fortitude, demonstrating how strength and optimism can coexist. The bright, uplifting energy of Illuminating is perfectly balanced by the enduring, steady presence of Ultimate Grey, making this colour combination a symbol of unity and encouragement for the year ahead. The Pantone Colour Institute’s choice of these two colours highlights the importance of both practical stability and a sunny outlook, inspiring designers and consumers alike to embrace a future filled with both strength and optimism.
Colour Combinations and Palettes Inspired by 2021’s Colours
The Pantone Colour Institute has curated five distinctive colour palettes that showcase the versatility of PANTONE 17-5104, Ultimate Grey, and PANTONE 13-0647, Illuminating. These palettes demonstrate how the colour combination of enduring Ultimate Grey and vibrant yellow Illuminating can be adapted to suit a wide range of moods and design needs. Whether used in graphic design, product packaging, industrial design, or even travelling art collections, this pairing brings together the solid dependability of Ultimate Grey with the vibrant, uplifting energy of Illuminating. The result is a great combination that adds both brightness and composure to any space, making it ideal for commercial spaces, home offices, and creative environments. The Pantone Colour Institute’s colour experts have carefully selected these shades to inspire new colour influences and design trends across multiple industries, from fashion and home furnishings to entertainment and even upcoming sporting events. By blending the weathered appearance highlights of Ultimate Grey with the cheerful, solar-powered spark of Illuminating, designers can create environments that foster productivity, positivity, and resilience. This dynamic duo continues to influence product development and art collections worldwide, proving that thoughtful colour choices can encapsulate deeper feelings and capture worldwide attention.
Pantone's Consulting and Influence
Pantone leverages its expertise through the Pantone Colour Institute, offering consulting services to help brands choose impactful colours. The Institute provides tailored advice, taking into account competition, brand vision, and consumer psychology. Major brands across industries rely on Pantone's insights to differentiate themselves and drive sales. Colour consulting has become a powerful tool for brand identity and market success.
Pantone as a Style Icon
Beyond colour standards, Pantone has become a style icon, generating revenue from branded merchandise like mugs and home goods. Designers and consumers alike embrace Pantone's products, making the brand a household name. This diversification has expanded Pantone's reach beyond its core community of designers to millions of consumers worldwide.
The Future of Pantone
Pantone continues to innovate in the digital age, adapting its color systems for RGB and HTML applications. The MyPantone app, launched in 2009, allows users to capture and visualise colours from photos, further cementing Pantone’s relevance in a digital world. As a trusted authority on colour, Pantone remains at the heart of global design, shaping trends and inspiring creativity. Pantone continually seeks the ideal combination of colours to inspire future trends and creative directions.
Wrapping Up: Pantone Colour of the Year 2021
Pantone Colour of the Year 2021—Ultimate Grey and Illuminating—reflects the challenges and hopes of the pandemic era. This colour combination uplifts the human spirit and quietly assures encouraging feelings, offering a sense of hope and positivity. Ultimate Grey quietly assures composure, steadiness, and resilience, acting as a solid and dependable element in design. These colours evoke encouraging feelings and symbolise dependable elements that support optimism and emotional well-being. The vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses hope and positivity, providing a warm and welcoming effect that brightens any space. Ultimate Grey is inspired by natural elements whose weathered appearance highlights an ability to endure, much like those found on beaches and in nature. Elements whose weathered appearance and natural elements that exhibit a weathered look symbolise resilience and strength, showcasing how their weathered appearance highlights the passage of time and enduring beauty. The combination of these colours encapsulates deeper feelings and reflects the enduring qualities of solid and dependable elements.
At Bean Bags R Us, we’re proud to feature these colours in our latest collections. Curious about colour perception? Click here to learn more. As Pantone looks ahead, expect future Colour of the Year selections to continue reflecting global events and cultural shifts, with a focus on meaningful, trend-setting shades.
