Pantone Color of the Year: History and Cultural Impact

Pantone 219 C and 3298 might not be names you recognize, but Barbie pink and Starbucks green are. When you see dozens of pinks, it’s easy to pick out Barbie pink, and the same goes for Starbucks green. These colors are so closely associated with their brands that they stand out in any crowd. But did you know that one of the earliest modern color systems was born from the effort to catalog the rich diversity of bird species?

The Origins of Pantone: Inspired by Nature

Pantone’s color story began with Robert Ridgway, a Smithsonian ornithologist who was tasked with cataloging the diverse bird species in the U.S. between 1886 and 1929. His challenge was to describe birds’ colors accurately, which proved difficult because colors change in appearance depending on light and surrounding shades. This task required a precise and systematic approach to color identification, especially for varying hues like the reddish-orange of the American robin or the wine red of the purple finch.

Fast forward to the 1950s, when Lawrence Herbert, a technician managing colors for cosmetics packaging, faced a similar problem. Variations in printing often meant that colors didn’t match from one production run to the next, creating frustration and inconsistency. Herbert tackled this challenge in 1963: as the owner of Pantone, he introduced the Pantone Matching System (PMS), which revolutionized the design industry by enabling precise color matching across different media and materials.

The Universal Language of Color

Think of Pantone as a universal color language. Just as a lingua franca allows people from different language backgrounds to communicate, Pantone enables designers, manufacturers, and artists worldwide to speak the same “color language”. Before Pantone, there wasn’t a standard way to talk about color, so everyone had their own idea of what a “red” or “blue” should look like.

Pantone solved this by creating a system with unique color codes, so that people could all use the same reference, no matter where they were in the world or what industry they worked in. Just as a shared language bridges communication gaps, Pantone provides clarity and uniformity, enabling seamless collaboration across the global creative landscape.

The Color of the Year – A Symbol of the Times

Pantone’s Color of the Year might seem trivial at first, but its impact is far-reaching in design, branding, and culture. Introduced in 1999, the Pantone Color of the Year program has sparked global conversations for a quarter of a century about the connection between culture and color. To arrive at the selection each year, a global team of color experts at the Pantone Color Institute explores a wide range of influences, including the entertainment industry, films, art exhibitions, emerging artists, fashion, travel destinations, evolving lifestyles, and socio-economic conditions. New technologies, materials, and textures, along with trends on social media and major global events—such as prominent sporting competitions—also play a role in shaping the final choice.

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2025 is Mocha Mousse, a rich, warm brown that represents comfort, stability, and connection. This shade evokes the earthy tones of nature and emphasizes a return to grounded, natural elements in a fast-paced world. Some notable past selections include Very Peri (2022), a dynamic periwinkle blue that encourages creativity and symbolizes transformation, and Living Coral (2019), a vibrant yet comforting shade celebrating optimism. For 2020, Pantone chose Classic Blue, representing calm, confidence and connection—a choice that turned out to fit the uncertain COVID times surprisingly well.

During challenging times, people may lean towards darker, muted shades like grays and browns, which evoke a sense of calm, introspection, or even melancholy. On the other hand, when life is more positive, brighter colors such as yellows, blues, and greens are often chosen, symbolizing energy, optimism, and renewal. These color preferences often mirror collective moods, with society’s state influencing the colors we are drawn to.

Closing Remarks

As we move through the 2020s, it’s quite remarkable to realize that 2050 is now about as close to us as the year 2000. As we approach the 2050s, we could anticipate some exciting color trends influenced by shifting cultural and environmental factors. With growing environmental concerns, colors inspired by nature such as earthy greens, blues, and browns may take center stage—or technological advancements could introduce metallic or vibrant neon shades. With global connectivity and ever-evolving lifestyles, Pantone’s future colors may also reflect bold, futuristic tones, symbolizing innovation, sustainability, and unity as we move closer to the mid-century.

As we look ahead, what do you think the Pantone Color of the Year will reveal about the evolving trends and values of society in the next decade?