The Color of the Year 2009

Although the color czars are dictating the color that a specific color will be "THE COLOR of 2009" (come back to this blog in a few days for details), we suggest a color bailout. Or maybe we should call a moratorium on all trends. The last thing we need as we enter a new year challenged by severe economic and environmental realities is a color that will promote us to consume more. Isn’t that what any trend evokes?

Perhaps we can blame Marie Antoinette. When I was researching the origin of Tiffany’s signature “robin’s egg blue,” I discovered that light turquoise was the color of the "it-girl" of the day - Empress Eugenie, Napoleon III’s wife, who chose this as her signature color because it was color of the woman she most admired - Marie Antoinette. Tiffany thought this would be the perfect color to attract the fashionistas of the day.

The date was 1850.

Human nature (at least in the Western world) craves the injection of the new. We can’t change that but we can change how we respond to trends. Therefore, let’s proclaim that the color of 2009 is YOUR FAVORITE COLOR.

I’ll tell you the truth about color: As a result of over 20 years of research and practice as a color consultant, the color that will calm you, the color that will make you happier and more productive is .... your favorite color.

So celebrate the New Year! Wear that shirt or blouse that in a color that you love. You might even grab a gallon of paint in your favorite color and see what happens after you paint a wall
(.... just one wall, for starters).

Why the Color Czars Dream Up New Hues

The fashion industry, car manufacturers, makers of interior design products (including paint manufacturers), and many other industries all look to color forecasters to see where color trends might be heading.

These forecasting groups predict color trends one or two years ahead and they charge quite a fee for the their reports and color specifications (chips, swatches, etc.). Manufacturers then “interpret” the forecasts for their products and customers.

Is it self-fulfilling prophecy? Is it manipulative?

Consider this: If you own a paint company, you want to sell paint. One way to do that is to make certain colors seem dated and others seem hot. One day you’re in, one day you’re out. Shame on you if you painted your living room the wrong color. On the other hand, consumers may want to update their wardrobes or paint their walls because the renewal feels uplifting.

In conclusion, we suggest that it’s time for common-sense colors. Classic colors. Personal favorite colors. You’re the color guru in 2009.

See: “The lords of color are always dreaming up a new hue”

What color will American Airlines Paint its 787s

Since an airplane’s skin (the covering of the fuselage, wings, etc.) is aluminum, it’s usually polished and unpainted. However, the Boeing 787 is a new-design airplane will have a composite skin, one that doesn't take too well to shiny polishing. So what color will American paint the airplanes?

Would you guess blue? ( … and especially if you read the December 1 blog about car colors ...)

Guess again. The CFO said that American is considering painting them burnt orange. (Did he mean International Safety Orange?)

Source

More holiday shoppers are buying gifts based on color - USA Today

Color Matters! The author of this blog was just quoted in USA Today (December 8, 2008) in the article "More holiday shoppers are buying gifts based on color."

From the article:
In the most economically depressing holiday season in decades, there’s one buzzword — besides cheap — that’s still got game at retail: color.

More:
While in a bleak economy, some companies and consumers are more somber in their choices — but a lot go the other way and embrace color. “People form a personal connection to a product in a color they like,” says Jill Morton, head color consultant at Colorcom. This can be particularly critical, she says, “in times of doom and gloom.”

Source - USA Today - "Gifts in Color"

More information about Colorcom's database about consumer color preferences - The Global Color Survey

Blue is the car color of tomorrow

It’s blue again! It’s the favorite color of people all around the globe and even though we may adore it and wear it, how many people want a "true blue" car?

Automotive paint supplier PPG Industries Inc. issued its annual forecast and predicts that blues (particularly more vibrant, richer, complex blues) will take on a more important role in car styling.

Cars will also see a wider variety of colors - and more complex ones - thanks to advances in paint technology. Since customizable color are now an option with cell phones, kitchen appliances and even washing machines, it’s time for cars to follow suit.

Comments:
It all depends on the car. I’ll admit to owning an “electric blue” Mini Cooper for three years. It was one of those seductively beautiful colors that people would comment on. Surfers, senior citizens, and Japanese tourists in parking lots, and "thumbs up" from other drivers. Bright blues are ideal for compacts and cute little cars. As for other cars (such as luxury models), not an ocean blue ... perhaps a a deep, dark blue accented by sparkling glass flakes (the color PPG calls "Lights Out") would work.

Source