PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, be cool, calm and confident as we cross the threshold into a new era.

In December, Pantone announced its 2020 Color of the Year PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue, a timeless and enduring blue hue that is elegant in its simplicity.

Photo by Stefan Gunnarsson on Unsplash

“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. Imbued with a deep resonance, Classic Blue provides an anchoring foundation. A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication.” – Leatrice Eiseman, Executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.

For two decades now, Pantone’s Color of the Year has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries, from fashion to home furnishings and textiles to industrial design, as well as graphic design. Typically, trends that we see in colour are reflecting significant macro trends that are taking place in culture.

Colour Formula & Guides

*CMYK values are approximate and were established under specific criteria. To be used as a starting point only. When reproducing these colours in CMYK, please have the printer adjust them visually on the specific substrate and within your printing parameters so that the best possible simulation to the colour is achieved.

“Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking…” This statement, within me, evokes political concern in comparison to last year’s colour, ‘Living Coral’, a more uplifting and joyful hue.

Perhaps Classic Blue reflects our need for security in the midst of current world affairs, Greta Thunberg’s fight for political leaders to take action relating to the climate crisis, the Coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the global economy, to name a few.

I agree that we need to ‘look beyond the obvious’ and the ‘Color of The Year’ indeed is befitting, so let’s take this opportunity to explore the concept of Colour Psychology.

Colour Psychology

Did you know that colour and light therapy was one of the first type of therapies used by man? Scientifically, colours have been proven to affect our moods, and there is evidence of this form of therapy dating back to ancient Egypt, China and India. There are seven main colour groups, and each one has a different frequency. The colour blue is known for increasing awareness.

Colour of life

Colours affect us psychologically and physically. Phototherapy is a treatment that uses blue-coloured light to help cure infants suffering from jaundice. Medical practitioners use blue-coloured light to penetrate the skin, adding oxygen to convert excess bilirubin into a substance that can be safely excreted.

My colour interpretation

As a designer, I think it’s essential to pay attention to how colours evoke feelings—knowing how the colour we select affects our audience is crucial because it connects with them on an emotional level. Colour psychology is based primarily on instinct. While some of us might perceive colours slightly differently, how we connect to a colour can often be attributed to our subconscious, our history, as well as our cultural and our personal preferences.

With all of the turmoil happening in the world at the moment, the colour Classic Blue is certainly helping me stay calm and collected.