Pantones Colour of the Year is a calming and simplistic start to 2020

This year’s colour has been revealed as PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue.

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The choice of colour is a reaction to the fast-moving world around us, with Pantone saying: "PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue brings a sense of peace and tranquillity to the human spirit, offering refuge. Aiding concentration and bringing laser-like clarity, PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue re-centres our thoughts. A reflective blue tone, Classic Blue fosters resilience."

As we embark on a new decade during a time of global political and social uncertainty, the American paint company settled on a shade that offers a sense of reassurance, confidence and connection that they believe many people are searching for.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute, said: “We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by PANTONE 19-405 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on.”

Confidence, stability and clarity

With connotations of confidence, stability and clarity, the Pantone shade is comparable to Barques’ branding, not only in colour but also in its values. 

Over the last three decades, the Barques brand has evolved to reflect our growth, development and maturity but two things have remained: our transparent and dependable approach to design, web and marketing projects, and of course the colour blue, which has been the main colour in our brand colour palette for the last 30 years.

Working in an industry that is continuously changing, it's important that we also adapt our services and evolve our branding. As recently as September 2019, we made a subtle alteration to our visual branding, with the background of our logo being transformed from a block colour into a gradient, whilst still staying true to our blue, dependable roots. 

Barques creative director, Lee Haynes, said: “Our branding is reflective of the way we have adapted to meet the changing needs of our clients and remain at the forefront of a competitive industry. The scope of our business is much wider than it was as a design agency 30 years ago. Barques delivers a broader range of complementary services in marketing, digital and communications and the traditional lines between those disciplines are increasingly blurred.”

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A quick look back at Pantone’s previous Colour of the Year choices…

As we look ahead, the 2020 colour brings us almost full circle to the first Colour of the Year, Cerulean, which was another blue hue selected in 1999, capturing a moment in time where instability was also felt ahead of the Millenium. 

In the years between, Pantone has chosen more invigorating or unusual choices, from the energising Living Coral and enigmatic Ultra Violet to the natural and organic tones of Sand Dollar.

A representation of the current world we live in, the Colour of the Year is carefully selected by a panel of experts who look for influences and study trend analysis from across the world. These selected colours influence purchasing decisions and product development across a range of industries including fashion, home furnishings and industrial design. Brands, including Adobe Stock, have partnered with Pantone to create products using the Colour of the Year.

Put the colour into your brand

Colour plays an important role in how your brand is perceived, with colour proven to affect human behaviour, influence perception and enhance effectiveness. As a brand, it’s highly advantageous to cultivate a strong emotional connection with your customers, as it could be the difference between standing out from the crowd or blending into it. 

Whether you’re facing a period of growth, a change in company strategy or want to connect with a new audience, there are many reasons to rebrand your business.