2000: Cerulean
Pantone chose Cerulean for its first ever Color of the Year. The hue was referred to as the “Color of the Millennium” because it reflected a sense of peace, fulfillment and a look forward to the future. Pantone went on to select varying shades of blue for many of its Colors of the Year going forward.
2001: Fuchsia Rose
The bright pink color was chosen to counterbalance the previous year’s softer color.
2002: True Red
The vivid red color is said to represent power, love and passion.
2003: Aqua Sky
The light blue shade was chosen for its similarity to the sky and its serene quality.
2004: Tigerlily
Pantone’s 2004 color takes inspiration from the Tigerlily flower.
2005: Blue Turquoise
Pantone looked to the sea for its color of 2005. Blue Turquoise was meant to be a gentler and cooler hue than Turquoise, which was the Color of the Year in 2010.
2006: Sand Dollar
The neutral color was a stark contrast from the bright hues that came before and after it. The color was chosen as a reflection of the nation’s concern about the economy.
2007: Chili Pepper
The fiery red color is bold, eye-catching and enticing. The color was chosen because Pantone predicted people were going to express themselves more as technology and social media platforms were gaining in prominence.
“Whether expressing danger, celebration, love or passion, red will not be ignored,” said Leatrice Eiseman, the Pantone Color Institute’s executive director. “Chili Pepper is a reflection of exotic tastes both on the tongue and to the eye. Nothing reflects the spirit of adventure more than the color red.”
2008: Blue Iris
The hue combines the calming nature of blue and the spiritual and mystical qualities of purple, according to Pantone. The color was meant to hint at a year of mystery and excitement, likely referencing that year’s presidential election.
2009: Mimosa
The bright yellow color reflects the warmth and nurturing qualities of the sun. The color was meant to evoke a sense of hope and optimism following a time of economic uncertainty.
2010: Turquoise
Pantone’s 2010 color combined the serenity of blue with the invigorating aspects of green, according to the institute. The soothing color is believed to be a protective talisman in some cultures and has a deeper meaning of compassion and healing. The color also relates to a tropical paradise and evokes images of escape and relaxation.
2011: Honeysuckle
The pink hue is said to be reinvigorating and uplifting.
Eiseman described Honeysuckle as a “captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going.” She also stated the color “derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”2012: Tangerine Tango
The red-orange color is meant to symbolize a burst of energy and a recharge moving forward. The color is said to be reminiscent of a sunset, with the “adrenaline rush of red” and the “friendliness and warmth of yellow.”
2013: Emerald
The vivid green color relates to the gemstone in that it’s luxurious and sophisticated. The color also represents growth, renewal, prosperity and unity.
2014: Radiant Orchid
Radiant Orchid is warm and confident. Its blend of warm and cool tones makes it versatile and modern. The color is supposed to instill confidence, joy, love and health.
2015: Marsala
The earthy red wine hue, as Pantone refers to it, is said to “enrich minds, bodies and souls.” The color has a universal appeal and can translate to fashion, beauty, home décor and interiors.
2016: Rose Quartz and Serenity
Pantone chose two colors for 2016. The combination of the warm rose tone and cool blue tone reflect “connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace,” according to Pantone. The two colors were also meant to show a gender blur to coincide with increasing social movements toward gender equality and fluidity.
2017: Greenery
Greenery symbolized new beginnings following the tumultuous 2016 presidential election. It is said to represent restoration and renewal and relate to the first days of spring.
2018: Ultra Violet
The blue-purple hue is said to represent originality, ingenuity and visionary thinking. The color has long reigned in pop culture thanks to musical icons like Prince, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix.
2019: Living Coral
The bright color symbolizes “our innate need for optimism and joyful, lighthearted pursuits,” according to Pantone. The color was meant to counteract the ubiquity of technology and social media by encouraging immersive experience, connection and intimacy through its warmth and comforting nature.
2020: Classic Blue
Classic Blue was chosen for the collective desire for a dependable and stable foundation going into the new decade. The hue is rooted in nature and relates to the sky at dusk.
2021: Illuminating and Ultimate Gray
Pantone chose two colors for 2021, Illuminating and Ultimate Gray, which synchronously symbolize unity, stability and hope following the coronavirus pandemic. “It’s aspirational. We’re not there yet, but we’re aiming for that,” Eiseman said. “We’re trying to get there. When the gray clouds disperse, we see the sunshine.”
2022: Very Peri
Very Peri is described as a“dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet red undertone,” which blends “the faithfulness and constancy of blue with the energy and excitement of red.”
