Celebrating International Colour Day 2021

Most of us have a favourite colour with some organisations citing Blue as the most favoured colour internationally. Each year a colour of the year is announced by Pantone, an international colour matching system used by graphic, fashion and product designers plus manufacturers across the globe.

Starting in 2000, each December, Pantone announces the Colour of the Year for the following year. The colour purportedly connects with the zeitgeist and is reached after lengthy discussions with representatives from various nations’ colour standards groups.

Pantone Colour of the Year 2021 is Ultimate Gray and Illumination – only the second time two colours have been chosen for a single year (the other was in 2016 when Rose Quartz and Serenity were chosen).

Pantone describes the combination of these two tonally equal hues of grey (Ultimate Gray) and yellow (Illumination) as ‘a marriage of colour conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting.

This colour combination is particularly pertinent to the threat of covid-19 and climate change that the entire world is experiencing. In Pantone’s words:

“The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a colour combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit.”

Ayurveda, an alternative medicine system with its historical roots in the Indian subcontinent, pairs certain colours with specific days of the week. Monday is the day to wear white, for example, Tuesday is red, Wednesday is green and Thursday is yellow. Friday is purple, Saturday blue and Sunday dark red (for the sun).

One thing that is universally recognised about colour – and indisputable – is that colour is totally subjective. Colour of the Year? The best colour to wear? We all see it differently – which is another amazing fact about colour. So what is your favourite colour? What will be your favourite colour for 2021?