BLUE PERIOD
Written by Colin Dennis
Subtle yet strong and conjuring up images of the sky at dusk, PANTONE calls its 2020 Color of the Year—19-4052 Classic Blue—a relatable and dependable hue. "We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. Imbued with deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation," said Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute.
The Color of the Year has served as a guidepost for professionals involved with fashion, home furnishings, and industrial design for two decades. To make their annual selection, color experts at the Pantone Color Institute consider predominating socio-economic conditions along with studying global trends in entertainment, design, travel, and technology. Whereas Living Coral, PANTONE's 2019 color of the year, symbolized an innate need for optimism and playful pursuits, Classic Blue emphasizes stability.
"The Pantone Color of the Year highlights the relationship between trends in color and what is taking place in our global culture at a moment in time, a color that reflects what individuals feel they need that color can hope to answer," said Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute.
This year, PANTONE has reached outside the boundaries of its iconic color swatch by collaborating with sensory experts in varied fields to conceptualize Classic Blue as a sound, smell, taste, and feeling. These unique partnerships have resulted in everything from a custom blended tea to a collection of 200 audio samples. Choose from our roundup of blue-hued pieces to help color your world on-trend.
