Pantone Colours of the Year 2021

Pantone Colour of 2021

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This post discusses the 2021 Pantone Colour of the Year as chosen by the Pantone Colour Institute, based on a post on the Pantone website. Below we summarise this article.

Who are the Pantone Colour Institute?

The Pantone Colour Institute helps companies make informed decisions about colour for their brands or products. This includes colour trend forecasting, brand colour development, custom colour solutions, or product palette selection.

Pantone Guides

The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is a product of the Pantone Colour Institute. PMS guides or books are widely used within the graphic design and printing industries as a universal colour standard. The Pantone Colour Matching System is largely a standardized colour reproduction system. By standardizing the colours, manufacturers of all types of products and packaging in different locations can all refer to the Pantone system to make sure colours match without direct contact with one another. At Dollard Packaging, we use PMS books to match and monitor colours during the print run.

Pantone book and eye glass with printed food packaging — Pantone book and eye glass

Grey and Yellow are the 2021 Colours of the Year

In 2021, Pantone Colour Institute broke with tradition and chose two colours for the colour of the year 2021, instead of one colour. The colours are Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate Gray. The choice of colour is heavily influenced by what is happening in the world, especially the challenges that the world faces. According to the Pantone website, the Pantone’s colour experts at Pantone Colour Institute comb the world looking for new colour influences…..to arrive at the selection each year”

It appears that the challenges of COVID19, climate change and combating racism and division seem to have played a part in the choice of these colours. The article on the Pantone website states the following:

As people look for ways to fortify themselves with energy, clarity, and hope to overcome the continuing uncertainty, spirited and emboldening shades satisfy our quest for vitality. PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow sparkling with vivacity, a warming yellow shade imbued with solar power. PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray is emblematic of solid and dependable elements which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation. The colours of pebbles on the beach and natural elements whose weathered appearance highlights an ability to stand the test of time, Ultimate Gray quietly assures, encouraging feelings of composure, steadiness and resilience
Pantone.com website

Reactions to Packaging Colour

Using on-trend colours can enhance consumer reaction to your packaging. It is important for brands to understand how and why colours on packaging can affect how a consumer reacts to it.

If you are starting a new packaging design project, remember it is imperative to create the carton structure first, and then begin the process of artwork creation. You can read more about Carton Structure here.

Need help with your next packaging project? Email us today.