Unveiling the Mystery: The Process behind Choosing the Color of the Year - Insights from Industry Experts
Chatting about the Color of the Year, that trendy hue that somehow sums up the spirits of the epoch, is essential for design enthusiasts. And you're going to uncover the 411 on how brands decide on this season's must-have color. We chatted with three gurus to get the lowdown:
- Ashley Banbury: Color Marketing Manager at HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
- Sue Kim: Director of Color Marketing at Valspar
- Carol Miller: Trend Expert with York Wallcoverings
What's Really the Color of the Year (COTY)?
Ashley, Sue, and Carol describe the COTY as striking, innovative, and livable. According to Sue, "It's a cultural moment to ignite a conversation about color." Given by brands around November each year, COTY isn't merely a design trend—it's a visual demonstration of the current world's attitudes.
Carol shares, "The Color of the Year snags the essence of the moment, displaying cultural attitudes captured by a single shade or group of shades." Multiple industries, trends, and facts inform the selection of the annual COTY, as we'll discuss later.
Sue Kim, Valspar Director of Color Marketing
Blending art with science, Sue says, is the secret to picking the perfect color. Beyond being a trend gauge, choosing the right COTY can inspire consumers to explore new color combinations and try something fresh in their homes. HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams creates a "Color Collection of the Year" for a complete aesthetic experience. The COTY is their most representative pick of the overall mood and theme of the entire collection.
How a Color of the Year is Chosen?
Choosing a COTY involves a detailed process that starts at least 1-2 years before the color's official presentation. Research and analysis are at the heart of COTY selections. "The Color of the Year isn't a rush decision," Sue claims.
Trend Research
Sue and her team study significant global trends within and across various sectors, be it pop culture, media, fashion, design, technology, or even food. Valspar concentrates on understanding consumer lifestyle trends, how people are living in their homes, and where decorating trends are headed to help determine the colors that will resonate with people.
Data Analysis
Color forecasters scrutinize brand data, like sample orders and paint tint information, to predict what hues will dominate the coming year. York looks at trend forecasts, sales data, consumer polls, and fashion runways, focusing on patterns where colors either dominate or recur.
Predictive Research
In addition to understanding current trends, experts also predict what may impact the scene the year the color is revealed. For example, research for 2025's Naturally Refined COTY pointed towards the need for calm and quiet colors in homes to counteract external forces.
How Far Ahead Are Colors of the Year Forecasted?
The research, analysis, and evaluation go on until the perfect color is selected. Banbury explains that they constantly observe shifts in color and design, moving slightly toward emerging trends. Valspar, on the other hand, starts working on the COTY a year or two in advance, coming together in the fall to analyze trends and point towards what upcoming consumers are excited for.
Final Thoughts
Contrary to being temporary, the Color of the Year movement has longevity—even if it may seem to mimic trends at its onset. Appreciated by designers and regular folks alike, the COTY provides a thrilling perspective on the colorful world of interior design. Keep your eyes peeled as your favorite brands reveal this year's hues!
Enrichment Data:
- Selection Process: The Color of the Year selection process often involves global trend research, collaborative workshops, data analysis, consumer and market insights, and predictive analysis.
- Influencing Factors: The selection can be influenced by factors such as pop culture and media, fashion and design industries, market trends and consumer behavior, and the overall mood of society.
- Design enthusiasts find chatting about the Color of the Year (COTY) essential, as it encapsulates the sentiments of the epoch, making it a crucial discussion for the industry.
- A guru in the field, Sue Kim from Valspar, describes the COTY as innovative, striking, and livable, asserting it as a cultural moment to spark conversations about color.3.,Brands like HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams create a "Color Collection of the Year", selectively choosing the COTY as the most representative shade of the overall mood and theme of the entire collection.
- Valspar's Sue Kim believes that choosing the right COTY can inspire consumers to experiment with new color combinations and breathe fresh life into their homes.
- Valspar's team researches significant global trends across various sectors, including pop culture, media, fashion, design, technology, and food, to inform the selection of the annual COTY.
- To predict the hues that will dominate the coming year, color forecasters analyze brand data, like sample orders and paint tint information, as well as focus on patterns where colors either dominate or recur.
- Research for future COTYs often involves predictive analysis, anticipating factors that may influence the design world, such as the need for calm and quiet colors in homes to counteract external forces in the case of 2025's Naturally Refined COTY.