Colour of the Year 2016

Still bright enough to attract attention while also subtly referring to the past and the colour of the earth, it also combines well with other tones.

In identifying a colour that would connect with the overall trend of looking both ways, we noted that all the key trends for 2016 had an element of gold in them. It’s the ‘golden hour’ of Dark and Light; it’s the gold that appears in Heritage and Future – both in the paintings of old masters and also in modern design trends. Out of the broad palette of yellows we identified, we have carefully selected the one yellow that best represents the golden influence of the coming year’s colour trends. We nominated a golden yellow, which has been translated into an almost ochre colour; still bright enough to attract attention while also subtly referring to past and the colour of the earth, combining well with other tones.

Our research saw gold and gold tones being used everywhere in the design world. It is a recurring colour at design fairs and in graphic design as well as in architecture, fashion, beauty and interior decorating. We feel that this is a beautiful next step, a natural evolution and transition from the coppery orange that was the Colour of the Year for 2015