2021 Pantone Color of the Year - Clear Design

Opposites Attract: Yellow and Gray Lead the Way for 2021

We love when opposites attract. Chefs experiment with sweet and salty flavors to find the one that works, and we grin from ear to ear when we see a picture of a kitten snuggling a puppy. The same can go for colors and design. Pantone knows this well which is why they introduced their 2021 Colors of the Year: Illuminating and Ultimate Gray.

Why gray and yellow? Gray is grounded and cerebral, weighted and thoughtful. A perfect way to encapsulate the 2020 many people have experienced. Pantone didn’t stop there, though. They chose to “marry,” as they say, gray with yellow. Yellow is a bright burst of sunshine, lighting up the darkness we have fought through this past year. Here is what they said about this color pairing:

“Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, the union of PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating is one of strength and positivity. It is a story of color that encapsulates deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the promise of something sunny and friendly.”

We’ve allowed these colors to inspire us as we step into the new year. In the office, gray is the perfect neutral for any environment. Some of our favorites are KOZE in Arctic Silver, COVE pods in Baltic and Slate Gray, and our Acoustic PET dividers in a number of gray hues. As Pantone has taught us, yellow is the perfect accent to balance the gray, and we love Marigold and Curry from our FX line, available in just 15 days.

The Pantone Color of the Year and the intentionality behind it serves as a great inspiration to us. Clear Design is fully dedicated to offering high quality products, the fastest lead times in the industry, and support that exceeds your expectations time and again. Let’s look for the light as we all look forward to a bright 2021.

For any questions about our products, services, or ways we can help you, contact us at inspire@mycleardesign.com or give us a call at (866)304-7197.