An unprecedented year calls for extraordinary measures when it comes to the much-anticipated Pantone Color of The Year announcement, where not one but two colors have been named by the esteemed color authority. The honors go to 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and 13-0647 Illuminating, and together they collectively represent the year we’ve all experienced and the bright optimistic spot we’ve all been yearning for.
Ultimate Gray “is emblematic of solid and dependable elements which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation,” while Illuminating sparks cheer and vivacity and positivity. The combo “highlights our innate need to be seen, to be visible, to be recognized, and to have our voices heard.”
Last year’s COTY went to Classic Blue – a timeless, dependable color for a new decade. Luckily, that still rings true. And after years of subsequent bright, vibrant colors (2019 saw Living Coral, 2018 with Ultra Violet, and who could forget 2017’s Greenery), this year’s Ultimate Gray is the first real neutral since 2006’s Sand Dollar. Color for thought, indeed.
