You can see this reflected in the earthy tones of the ’70s, another era of economic recession. The 2008 recession muted things, so to speak: as Stewart points out, in times of austerity we want the things we own–particularly “big-ticket items” like couches and coats–to be more neutral, since we might be stuck with them for a while. But the ’80s also saw a surge in ultra-luxe colors that reflected the affluence of the time, when the rich were getting richer and people loved to flaunt their wealth. Pastels had a “mini moment,” as Eiseman puts it, in the late ’80s with shows like Miami Vice and the turquoise, peach and mauve of the Southwestern interior design movement. Pastels are calmer than the bright colors of the ’90s, when computers came in different colors and penny loafers could be ordered in chartreuse.

The ’80s saw a surge in ultra-luxe colors that reflected the affluence of the time. They are the opposite of stern reds, blues, and teal– the industrial colors of the Mad Men era.” The earthy tones of the ’70s reflect an era of economic recession. “The thing that came to my mind is how anti-modernist pastels are. Biv traces the different uses and perceptions of color throughout history (and who has contributed to Co.Design). “All color trends are cyclical,” says Jude Stewart, an author and design journalist whose book Roy G. Like all history, color trends tend to repeat themselves. My job is to wade through all this information and make some sense out of it.” “It comes from what’s happening in the world around us: socio-economics, the world of art, entertainment, fashion–there are so many things that fit into what makes up a trend. “The macro element is really important,” she says. So why are all these pale tones coming on so strong? It Begins In The Art WorldĪs the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, a major part of Leatrice Eiseman’s job is to pick up on color trends before they manifest themselves as trends. Yet Pantone’s annual choice is only made after a long process of evaluating colors that are already emerging naturally, across many different disciplines. If pastels weren’t dominating consumer products before, they definitely are now. Rose Quartz and Serenity, apparently selected to speak to a more gender-fluid world, also served to solidify the trending pastel palette. Then, earlier this year, Pantone broke with tradition to name not one but two shades for its color of the year. The Winners Of Our 2016 Innovation By Design Awards

Rosa pastel