Colours are the bright, brilliant, electric, mellow, flamboyant, vivid, pastel, delicate, and deep hues that draw us into designs, drawings, and other visual aspects that define brands.
Every year, colour trends change with some becoming a thing of the past, and others paving the way forward as front runners in design choices.
Last year, we saw a rise in neon with Shutterstock naming the top colours as UFO Green, Plastic Pink and Proton Purple, as a tribute to the growth of digital transformation and advancement in technology.
This year, we’re leaving neon in 2019, and growing much bolder…
Shutterstock conducted a new colour study and analysed research of multiple photos and pixels to determine which colours have had the biggest growth between last year and this year.
The findings?
Out with the Old and In with the Bold:
Rich, deep and bold colours are on the rise in popularity and have claimed the top tier ranks.
The names of these colours and photos they are depicted in share a theme that is less about 2019’s tech and futurism, and more about bringing it back to earth and featuring the striking qualities of the natural world.
Here are the top 3 colours for 2020, seen below:
Lush Lava, #FF4500
Lush Lava is a bold orange and rich red hue that captures our attention and leaves us craving more. It’s definitely a force to be reckoned with and a brand colour that could easily make your audience transfixed by its warmth and loud, welcoming spirit.
Aqua Menthe, #7FFFD4
Aqua Menthe gives us a tingling taste of a fresh mint and a breath of cool air. Although a cooler colour, it greets us in a way that is both peaceful and vibrant. The cyan-mint pairing is the perfect colour to let your mind drift off to the shores of a relaxing coastline, and a great colour for your brand to use to let your customers feel at ease.
Phantom Blue, #191970
A tad darker and more mysterious, Phantom Blue opens our curiosity to the unsolved questions of the universe, and unexplored depths of the world’s great oceans. Very rich and bold, this indigo-navy combination is both striking and calm. A perfect match for a sophisticated and luxurious brand logo.
Lush Lava, Aqua Menthe and Phantom Blue are the top 3 global colour trends for 2020. However, Shutterstock has also highlighted certain colour trends that vary for specific countries.
The UK’s Colour of 2020, #0000FF
Similar to Phantom Blue, the UK’s top trending colour is also a very rich, sophisticated and subtle electric hue of blue. Also found in many nature inspired pictures, it pays a tribute to the general theme of the earth’s beauty that we also see in the top 3 colours for 2020.
Colour can be used as a bold statement in your branding and how you choose to represent your brand colours, including your logo.
Whatever colours you choose to define your brand, ensure that the messaging that goes alongside it matches the essence of the colours and your brand’s tone of voice. Are you a serious and professional blue, a dramatic and fiery red, or a cool and peaceful mint?
With any new design, it’s important your messaging and the content that goes alongside it complements what the colours are portraying. Even more important is adjusting your content to not only reflect your brand, but also to be mindful of reflecting current global situations.
It’s quite fitting that deep and bold are the way forward for 2020, as the drama and tones of these colour trends relate to the current situation of this very deep and serious time. Therefore, colour design choices and messaging must be strategically chosen to fit and be sensitive to the current times that we’re living in.
For some tips, check out our previous blog post on being more mindful with your marketing efforts and how to adjust your brand strategy accordingly.