2020 will be the year of classic blue, Pantone says

US colour company Pantone has chosen 19-4052 Classic Blue for its colour of the year 2020 as a response to the fast pace of tech-driven modern living.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone Color Institute, said: “We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on.”

Classic Blue is also “genderless in outlook and seasonless in endurance” Pantone said, while being emblematic of heritage but at the same time highly contemporary”.

Pantone has been selecting a colour each year since 2000, taking its influences from all areas of design as well as the entertainment industry, art collections, fashion, popular travel destinations, new lifestyles and even socio-economic conditions.

In turn, its choice has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in fashion, home furnishings and industrial design, as well as product packaging and graphic design.

Pantone says Classic Blue will be its first multi-sensory colour of the year, giving it a sound, texture, taste and scent.

Last year, Pantone picked Living Coral, calling it warm, nurturing and optimistic.