Color Trends and Forecasting
the colors in this palette evoke a sense of simplicity and
relaxation. Watery blues, lush greens and soft blended
tones provide a mellow, calming and refreshing mentality.
Sea Mist (PPG1227-1), Ancestral (PPG1047-4), Almond
Cream (1086-3) and Simply Elegant (PPG1155-3), a few
of the colors in the palette, create a soft, calming ambiance
and pair beautifully with soothing Violet Verbena.
• IMPOWER: Centered on change powered by the fire element, this complex palette incorporates deep tones, light
neutrals and everything in between. It celebrates the fact
that consumers do not have to define themselves by any
specific design personality, but can exist somewhere in between. Consumers drawn to this palette can pair furnishings and colors from various genres and disciplines in a
decadent yet easy fusion. Bold colors of the PPG Paints
brand such as Azure Tide (PPG1231-6), Cenote (PPG17-
02), Red Licorice (PPG1186-7) and Crushed Pineapple
(PPG1213-7) pair with muted neutral tones such as Willow
Tree (PPG1112-6), Gray Violet (PPG1014-5), Silver Screen
(PPG1014-3) and not-quite gray Violet Verbena.
• BIOCENTRIC: This design story is representative of air
and the idea that we are all connected, and the palette
dazzles with space-inspired hues and saturated organics. PPG Paints brand colors Spinach Salad (PPG11-16),
Blueberry Muffin (PPG1164-5) and Enchanting Eggplant
(PPG13-07) give the palette an organic vibe, while Black
Flame (PPG1043-7), Cavalry (PPG1041-7) and Witchcraft
(PPG1037-7) offer blue-black mystery to the palette and
pair beautifully with Violet Verbena. Incorporating these
colors into the home gives the look of contemporary elegance and laid-back charm.
PPG’s OLYMPIC brand chose
Cloudberry (OL677.3) as its 2017
Color of the Year, a soft violet that
allows anyone to escape distractions of the outside world and find
satisfaction in solace. Cloudberry
appeals to individuals who increasingly find joy in pulling back from
advertising, social media, the news
cycle and other forms of information “noise” that throw off balance
and harmony. The soft violet is serene and calming, helping people
focus on family and professional
pursuits without distractions from
the outside world.
Additionally, PPG’s GLIDDEN
brand selected Byzantine Blue (50BB
32/117) as its 2017 Color of the Year,
which is a playful yet peaceful purple
that pairs the best qualifies of blue,
gray and violet. Byzantine Blue is elegant enough for any homeowner’s
style, whether traditional, modern or
somewhere in between. This color is perfect for anyone looking
to create balance in life and to establish a home base in which
to refocus energy.
CW: What are the main influencers of
color trends and how do you predict color
trends for the future?
Schlotter: PPG recognizes that we influence trends as much as
trends influence us, and our forecasts represent and connect to
consumer feelings and preferences. PPG’s color trends forecast
gathers information from a wide variety of sources and societal
influences, including runway trends, current consumer attitudes,
consumer food preferences, current events, build material trends
and many, many more sources. PPG also knows that it’s not simply about one color, but rather a combination of trending colors
to create an overarching, and all-encompassing color story that
resonates with our broad range of customers.
CW: Please provide any other information
that you think would be of interest.
Schlotter: PPG’s more than 20 global color stylists gathered
in February for the 2018 PPG Global Color Forecast meeting, an annual meeting held for the first time in Pittsburgh this
year. During the three-day meeting, PPG’s color experts came
together and discussed societal and regional trends, as well as
overarching consumer insights to determine the following year’s
color forecast, as well as the 2018 Color of the Year. Held for
the eighth consecutive year, the annual meeting brings together
insights from various regions around the world and from various PPG businesses to create a global forecast that resonates
with PPG’s customers in these industries. CW
Violet Verbena named 2017 Color of the Year by PPG Paints.
