I also feel that color, particularly color sensibilities, can be such a mutable thing. Depending on where you are, who you are, or what you're going through... what colors you're drawn to can change and be influenced. What might be appealing one moment, might not be the next... and vice versa.
I know that whenever something is dubbed the "XYZ of the Year" or something like that, it often times evokes strong negative responses. "Who are they to judge?!?!?!" Well... if you're not familiar with Pantone, it's a company that has spent decades codifying, naming, studying, and categorizing colors. They work with industry professionals from all sorts of different disciplines, from the fashion industry to car paint companies. They also work closely with graphic designers, illustrators, and the media... so chances are, whether you're familiar with Pantone or not, you've seen evidence of their work.
When they find the Color of the Year, they have industry professionals comb the catwalks of Fashion Week events around the world and do sort of a cross-section of what was the most prevalent. They use this as the basis to generate their report. They are exhaustive in examining colors and are very thoughtful in their decisions. It's quite the production! I appreciate how sensitive they are to current events and the zeitgeist of the moment to make their final choices. It's quite the impressive feat to suss out the color that defines a moment in time!
This certainly doesn't mean that you have to "like" every Color of the Year! But I find it fascinating to look behind the scenes. It's sort of like a magic decoder ring and if you know what to look for, it's kind of fun to see how much Pantone plays a part in our daily lives.
And when I find a color challenging, I think of it just like that! A challenge! I use it as a way to push myself out of my comfort zone and expand my understanding of the color. Some of the colors might not be my favorites, but working with them has taught me to appreciate them more. It's funny when I dissect why I have certain aversions or attractions to specific colors. My personal experiences have helped inform my reactions and I always find it helpful to understand why something is the way it is.
In one of the groups, there was some debate about what colors have been chosen previously, so I put together a quick chart from 2000 to present. It is a lovely rainbow of colors that reflect our ever-changing times.
To learn more about Pantone and the previous Colors of the Year and what goes into the selection process, CLICK HERE.
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