Zeitgeist
Pantone throughout the years; some seem simple, but others are more intriguing as to why it was chosen as the colour of the year. However, the colour Pantone chose for 2026 was Cloud Dancer – a pastel white/grey that was reminiscent of a cloud in the sky. Pantone’s yearly choice also influences the colours that brands choose for their products. This year’s colour of the year has since then been used in partnership with brands such as Post-it, Motorola and Play-Doh.
Laurie Pressman, vice president at Pantone Color Institute, said: “Similar to a blank canvas, Cloud Dancer signifies our desire for a fresh start. Peeling away layers of outmoded thinking, we open the door to new approaches. “An airy white hue, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer opens up space for creativity, allowing our imagination to drift so that new insights and bold ideas can emerge and take shape.”
Pantone: The colour gurus
AS WE GEAR UP TO RECEIVE NEXT YEAR’S PANTONE COLOUR OF THE YEAR IN DECEMBER, WE DECIDED TO LOOK INTO PREVIOUS PANTONE COLOUR SELECTIONS AND HOW THE RIGHT COLOURS CAN MAKE AN IMPACT.
Colour is an important part of the print industry but also within day-to-day life. Colours can wield a certain power over others, and that is always great to have when advertising or creating a type of branding. Pantone and its Colour Institute are a never-ending catalogue for colours, shades, tones and collections which can help create the identity a brand will be known for. For instance, Coca-Cola relies on Pantone’s vivid red 1788 C colour, which is then instantly recognisable for the brand.
Another would be fashion brand Lacoste’s
partnership with the Pantone Colour Institute to create its FOREVERGREEN colour, which was inspired by the brand’s crocodile logo and its habitat within the Everglades in Florida, USA. But while Pantone creates brands’ individual colours, it also chooses a ‘Colour of the Year’, a specific colour it feels embodies the times.
THE COLOUR OF THE YEAR 2026 Pantone is the foremost expert on colour, and there have been some interesting colours chosen by
TRADEMARKED COLOURS Colours are a great way of making a mark, whether that be by brand, lighting in a movie or the colour of a house. Colours can also be trademarked, not all colours; for instance, Coca-Cola red isn’t trademarked, as it can be construed as the same red as Target – the retail chain in America – so while the red is almost the same, as they operate under different product umbrellas, they aren’t able to sue the other. Having a colour trademarked and created in conjunction with Pantone is rare, but not as rare as you might believe. There have been several colours that Pantone created with brands that are trademarked and for good reason – these colours are synonymous with the brand they represent. For instance, one colour Pantone produced was
‘Tiffany blue’ for the Tiffany & Co jewellery brand. The robin’s egg blue remains one of the most recognisable colours in the world and is only usable by Tiffany & Co.
The symbolic meanings and undertones of colours can not only make a lasting impression on customers and the public but also allow people to automatically make the distinction between the brand and its colour.
THE PRINT INDUSTRY AND COLOURS The print industry relies on colour to create its products, heavily relying on the trusty CMYK to produce high- quality graphics and prints for the wide-format industry. However, with the introduction of orange, red, white, and clear inks, the world of printing has become more colourful than ever. That’s why Pantone’s decision on its ‘Colour of
the Year’ is important; it dictates what colours and palettes various industries will be likely to be asked for by clients. So we ask Pantone, what will the colour of 2027 be?
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