It’s at about this time (Decemberish) every year that Pantone, those self-appointed guardians of colour — announce their Colour of the Year. Like clockwork, every creative, designer, and Pinterest-mood-board enthusiast collectively rolls their eyes while muttering, “Really, Pantone? That’s what you’re going with?”
Before we dive into why Pantone’s annual color pick is always off (yes, always), let’s first recap the hits and misses of the past five years:
2020: Classic Blue
Classic Blue. Bold, calming, and absolutely useless when the world was busy stockpiling toilet paper. No one had time to embrace the serenity of blue when Zoom fatigue turned everything into a blur of gym wear and bad lighting.
2021: Ultimate Grey & Illuminating (Yellow)
Two colours! TWO! Gray for the pandemic gloom and yellow to… what, cheer us up? Combining them felt like throwing a smiley face onto a resignation letter. It was like Pantone saying, “We’re sad, but we’re trying.” Thanks, Pantone. Super helpful.
2022: Very Peri
Periwinkle. They really said periwinkle. The year was chaotic with crypto crashes and TikTok dances, but sure, let’s focus on a colour that can’t decide if it’s purple or blue.
2023: Viva Magenta
Apparently, it’s a “brave and fearless” shade. But all we saw was a colour that looks like a fruit smoothie and gave off major “I’m trying to be edgy, but I drink oat milk” energy.
2024: Apricot Crush
Oh, spoiler alert! It’s peachy, orangey, and all the things we’ve already ignored in sunsets. Sure, it’s pleasant, but it’s also what your mom picks for the guest bathroom towels.
Why Pantone’s Picks Never Land
Let’s get one thing straight… Pantone’s Colour of the Year is supposed to set trends, but somehow it always feels like they’re late to the party. The world is already over the colour before the confetti settles.
Take 2023’s Viva Magenta, for example. The moment it dropped, designers were like, “Cute, but we’re all about neutrals now.” And that’s the problem. By the time Pantone declares a colour trendy, the trend has already been snatched up, chewed, and spat out by Instagram influencers.
Plus, Pantone never picks a colour we actually need. Where’s the “Coffee Stain Beige” for those 4-hour Zoom marathons? Or “Petrol Price Panic Green” for 2024 South African realities? Instead, they give us peachy pastels and royal hues while Eskom gives us Stage 6.
Who Even Decides This?
Rumour has it that the Pantone team sits in a dimly lit room sipping overpriced lattes while debating if the world is ready for “Optimistic Lilac” or “Electric Beige.” Their reasoning? Vibes. That’s it.
The truth is, Pantone doesn’t care if we like the colour. Their goal is to spark debates, sell paint swatches, and confuse interior decorators everywhere.
So, What Should 2025 Be?
Here’s a freebie, Pantone: Let’s embrace reality. Forget the airy-fairy “inspired by the cosmos” nonsense. Let’s pick something real. Like “Loadshedding Shadow Gray” or “Netflix Binge Black.” These are the colours that truly capture the spirit of our times.
Until then, we’ll continue side-eyeing their choices, pretending to care, and painting our walls with whatever Builders Warehouse has on special.
Cheers to another year of questionable colour choices! 🌈
What do you think of this year’s Apricot Crush? Is it the zesty hue we need, or is Pantone just trolling us at this point? Let us know in the comments!
