Pantone Color of the Year 2021: Yellow and Grey

The American Pantone Color Institute has announced two main colors of 2021: calm grey – PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Grey, and optimistic yellow – PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating. They are meant to convey a message of strength and hope, enduring and uplifting at the same time.



Ultimate Grey by Pantone is the color of pebbles on the beach and weathered mountain slopes that can stand the test of time. This hue represents sturdy reliable timeless elements that create a solid foundation.
Grey encourages us by "stimulating feelings of equanimity, stability and resilience". Illuminating, on the other hand, is described as a bright and cheerful yellow, sparkling with vivacity, a warming shade filled with solar energy. Together, they are particularly relevant in a world where people are looking for confidence, energy and hope.



"The choice of two independent colors highlights how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hope that is enduring and uplifting at the same time, conveying the importance of the union of colors and the union of people. The combination of resilient Ultimate Grey with vibrant Illuminating Yellow expresses a message of positivity underpinned by strength of spirit," says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute.
"Practical and robust, yet warm and optimistic, this color combination gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and inspired, it is important for the human spirit."