Identifying a “color of the year,” a tradition Pantone started 20 years ago, has become a revered practice that many industries rely upon. The year 2000 was designated the year of Cerulean Blue, and two decades later Pantone has once more embraced the familiar, comforting hue. The company announced that the year 2020 belongs to Classic Blue.
In its research, Pantone has noted the current ubiquity of blue across a wide array of business and commerce, including the art market, beauty industry, the technology sector, and vehicle manufacturing. Classic Blue appeals to many senses, and Pantone has joined with other companies to develop and explore the smell, sound and even taste of Classic Blue in a clear appreciation of the multiple ways we intrinsically experience color as human beings.
From a psychological vantage point, blue symbolizes loyalty and tranquility, restoring calm not just to the room it highlights, but also within the human psyche, encouraging feelings of stability, confidence, and patience. No one will argue that the prevailing state of affairs in much of the world has inspired the opposite of these emotions, and the reintroduction of blue as the guiding hue promises to do more than just enliven a room in your house or office. It may very well help restore our sense of trust and hope for the future in a climate of flux and anxiety.