The Pantone Color of the Year 2020 is ‘Classic Blue’

It’s the time of year that all creatives have been waiting for. No, not Christmas. It’s that other magical moment when we find out the new Pantone Color of the Year.

Pantone Color Institute announced that its 2020 Color of the Year is PANTONE 19-4052 Classic Blue. Here’s why we think it’s the perfect shade to kick off a brand new decade.

Move over Living Coral, Pantone 19-4052 Classic Blue is the color of the new year.

Inspired by the worlds of fashion, art and home goods, it’s a comforting, familiar shade which is perfect for today’s stressful climate. Classic Blue is a hue that you’ve known your whole life (ever since you were drawing skies and big great seas with crayons in kindergarten), so we think you’ll instantly feel at ease with it. Vice president of The Pantone Color Institute Laurie Pressman says that the color offers stability and connections. “It’s a reassuring presence,” she told The Associated Press.

At the start of the century, Cerulean, another blue color, was selected as the color of 2000. With Cerulean being the color of the sky when the sun is shining, and Classic Blue emulating the hue of the sky as the day ends, it feels as if we’ve completed a two decade journey, and are now onto the next chapter.

Envato’s content specialist for graphic design Kate McInnes says, “I love this year’s Pantone color of the year. It’s calming in a dreamy way, not childish like pastel colors can be. Classic Blue brings celestial designs to my mind. Think wedding invitations that have beautiful deep blue watercolor backgrounds, constellation details and exquisite silver script.”

If you’re a designer, artist or creative you might want to consider incorporating the color of the year in your work. For example, if you’re designing wedding invites, use these decorative invitations. Marketers can download this indigo classic keynote for your next business presentation. Designers should take advantage of the Shore typeface and these floral watercolor clip art patterns. And UI designers might want to check out this flat and outline illustration design, perfect for your next web project. For more inspiration, check out our ‘Classic Blue’ Pinterest board, featuring items to download from Envato Elements.

The 2019 Pantone color of the year was PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral. A bolder and more luscious color than the cool and comforting Classic Blue of 2020, Living Coral evokes a zestful, positive and high-spirited feel, as well as a longing to reconnect with the environment. Giving a nod to the coral reefs which support a quarter of all marine species and half a billion people around the world, the 2019 hue is as natural as it is effervescent.

In addition to coral playsuits on the catwalk and coral statement crockery in kitchens, social media stars used these Coral Instagram story templates by vuuuds to make their stories stand out from the crowd, the Watercolor Texture Living Coral by cornercroft were perfect for the background of wedding invites and anyone delivering a presentation would have found these Living Coral Google Slides by Jumsoft really helpful. Designers working on interior design catalogues, product catalogues, product/graphic design portfolios and agency based projects could download this 28 page Minimal Portfolio Brochure template.

Inventive and imaginative, Ultra Violet 18-3838 lit the way in 2018. Dubbed a ‘dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade,’ the pantone color of 2018 communicated ingenuity, creativity and a pioneering vision that pointed out the future.

Designers could flock to Space Nebula Backgrounds by themefire as soon as the color of 2018 was announced. Great for different online designs, the abstract textures add an enigmatic aura to any artwork. Stock photos like this gorgeous and moody tropical beach by dotshock give off a mysterious vibe. Abstract liquid shape backgrounds are also a sought-after choice, especially for modern designers who love the marble effect and fab indigo colors. Finally, this Sangria design by designloverstudio is a fun one, and comes with six beautiful floral arrangements, all in a hand painted watercolor design.

2017 was all about fresh, clean design. Enter Greenery 15-0343, a green-yellow shade that was known as nature’s neutral. Showing a striking resemblance to Envato’s own logo, we were very fond of 2017’s color of the year. Greenery was prevalent in everything from plant-lined office spaces to morning smoothies (green juices had a big moment in 2017).

Greenery also made all of the year’s designs appear organic, natural and raw. From this delicious Green Tea Pattern by Purple-Bird to this Green Leaves Pattern by gertot1967 and this Green Seamless Pattern with Plants and Bird by Artness. For marketers, this Greenes – Organic Keynote Template by StringLabs made presentations seem fresh and exciting.

In addition to Classic Blue, it’s been predicted that 2020 will also be the year of bold and bright colors like flame scarlet, dependable hues like faded denim, as well as vivid orangey-yellow saffron tones. We’re also saying goodbye to the 2019 color trends, such as bold gold, natural greens and cobalt blue.

Here’s to a calm, peaceful and comforting year of tranquil and supportive Classic Blue. Need more color inspiration? We’ve recently shared our Color Trends 2020 report, check it out!