At Large  December 12, 2023  Rebecca Schiffman

Pantone Names 'Peach Fuzz' the 2024 Color of the Year

Courtesy Pantone

A wallpaper in Pantone's "Peach Fuzz," the Color of the Year 2024

What started as a small avenue in which Pantone could engage with the design community in 1999 has blossomed into a worldwide event each December when the Color of the Year (COTY) is announced. This year, for its 25th edition, Pantone has announced that the 2024 Color of the Year will be Pantone 13-1023 “Peach Fuzz.” The company describes this shade as “a velvety gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul.”

“In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance," said Leatrice Eisenman, the Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute in a statement. "A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless.”

Courtesy Pantone

Pantone color chip in "Peach Fuzz," the Color of the Year 2024

But how did Pantone become the authority of color, and how can they choose a color to define a year? The concept originated at the Pantone Color Institute in 1999 as part of their education program. The company wanted to show that color and culture were intertwined and that what is happening in the world can be reflected and expressed through the language of color. Since 2000, the Color of the Year has become an increasingly popular tradition, not just in the design and art world, but has worked to shape trends in design, marketing, consumer products, and more, sparking conversations about the intersection of color and culture.

“Since we introduced Pantone 15-4020 Cerulean Blue as the first Pantone Color of the Year in 1999, we have seen this program influence product development and purchasing decisions in nearly every industry and country around the world," said Laurie Pressman, Vice President of the Pantone Color Institute, about COTY's growing popularity and its societal influence. "Growing in popularity each year, its impact is felt across fashion, color cosmetics, home furnishings, automotive and industrial design, as well as product, packaging, multimedia design, and commercial interiors.”

Each year, a team of color experts at Pantone analyzes global trends in various fields, including fashion, art, technology, and even socio-economic factors, to identify a color that reflects the current cultural climate. The chosen color serves as a symbolic representation of the collective mood and serves as a source of inspiration for designers, creatives, and businesses worldwide.

This year’s hue is much more gentle and subdued than the vibrant magentas, violets, and bright yellows of the past few years, which contrasts with the current cultural climate. Amid a powerful and divisive war and an important election in the not-too-distant future, this peachy tone reminds us to take a breath and stay centered.

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