Every year, in December, global colour authority Pantone announces its ‘Colour of the Year’ for the following calendar year. For 2024, Pantone has named a velvety peach hue residing in the delicate space between pink and orange called Peach Fuzz, described as having an ‘all-embracing spirit that enriches heart, mind and body’.
Annually, the group of colour specialists analyses films, art, fashion, design, travel destinations, technologies and various other aspects of culture to discern what the biggest trends at the time are. Further employing forecasting tools and delving into colour-psychology research, the team then anticipates the trends for the future.
Last year's choice was Viva Magenta, a vibrant magenta-red chosen at a time when the world was celebrating emerging from the malaise of the pandemic. This stands in stark contrast to the present state of the world, marked as it is by numerous wars and upcoming elections. ‘At a time of turmoil in many aspects of our lives, our need for nurturing, empathy and compassion grows ever stronger, as do our imaginings of a more peaceful future,’ writes the Pantone Colour Institute.
Seeking to represent a focus on good health and peace, Pantone has selected a colour that captures the zeitgeist in a way that provides visual comfort. ‘In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we chose a colour radiant with warmth and modern elegance, a shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and effortlessly bridges the youthful with the timeless,’ says Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute.
Peach Fuzz is accompanied by a selection of colours that make up the 2024 Colour Palette of the Year, titled ‘Libations’ (which means offerings to a deity or spirit). Brandied Apricot, Marsala, Almondine, Almond Peach, Grapeade and Sauterne – each named after a flavour – comprise the muted palette.
The announcement of the 2024 choice marks the 25th anniversary of Pantone’s Colour of the Year initiative, since its first colour selection of Cerulean Blue in 1999.
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