As a new decade begins with anticipation and uncertainty, the world is in dire need of a stable foundation that offers dependability, or at least a sense of peace and tranquillity.
This is exactly what the next year’s color aims to offer.
Pantone on Dec. 4 announced that Classic Blue is the 2020 Color of the Year. Pantone 19-4052, the color institute said, is a shade reminiscent of the sky at dusk.
“The reassuring qualities of the thought-provoking Classic Blue highlight our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era,” Pantone said in a statement.
Pantone’s pick comes at a time of instability that grips nations across the globe, as well as the advancement of technology that “continues to race ahead the human ability to process it all.”
“We are living in a time that requires trust and faith,” said Pantone Color Institute executive director Leatrice Eiseman.
“It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on. Imbued with deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation,” she added.
Elegant and simple, pleasing to the eye and calming, the shade reminds one of, in addition to sky at dusk, blueberries, oceans, plush sofas, and accent walls—something familiar and non-aggressive, but also deep and intriguing.
“A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective, and open the flow of communication,” said Eiseman.
The year 2020 color recalls the first color chosen 20 years ago by the Color of the Year franchise, Cerulean—another shade of blue. Lighter than Classic Blue, Cerulean Blue provided a calming visual amid Y2K anxieties.
Since 1999, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, including fashion, home furnishings, and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design.
The color institute chooses which color will best represent each year based on thoughtful consideration and trend analysis.
To arrive at the selection each year, Pantone’s color experts comb the world looking for new color influences. These can include the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, popular travel destinations, as well as new lifestyles, playstyles, and socio-economic conditions.
Bring it into your life
Because it is classic and thus familiar, it’s quite easy to inject year 2020’s color into one’s lifestyle.
Paint a room with a classic blue color. Because of its calming and thought-provoking attributes, it works well in bedroom, living area, and home office.
Not yet ready to commit to the color? Pick a few furniture items such as accent chair or ottoman or nightstand; or accessories like throw pillows, vase, candle, or artwork.
A tailored suit in this color is a classic. Jewelry pieces with precious and semi-precious stones such as sapphire, lapis lazuli, and zircon are ideal to wear in formal occasions—and casual, too, when subtly worn.
(Tim Tam Ong)
The color can also be worn as scarf or watch strap. Classic blue cardigan and pencil skirt pair well with other neutral colors.
No wonder blue jeans are such a classic.
