The Business of Color

Posted by Rick Hosmer on February 10 2011

As designers, we work with PANTONE colors every day. They set the standard for the creative development, printing and fabrication of our client's branding work, whether that be print or online.

Selecting appropriate PANTONE colors and pulling swatches from PMS books is second nature to us. We've got to keep up on color trends in order to create effective corporate communication. And the folks at PANTONE help inform us of those trends.

It was interesting to read a recent NPR "Morning Edition" story about the influence PANTONE has on the international fashion industry.

In fact, a secret group of 10 designers meets with PANTONE twice a year in Europe, specifically to discuss color as it relates to fashion. Their insight results in PANTONE being involved in the color development of roughly half of the garments sold in the U.S.

Not that their insight will limit your color selections available from designers like Burberry or Guess, as PANTONE maintains a collection of 1,925 color shades in their textile portfolio.

As shared in the online article, John Crocco, creative director of Perry Ellis calls color forecasting for fashion, "a self fulfilling prophecy," meaning that if designers follow the forecasted trend, then they'll, "be part of what ultimately becomes the trend."

The balance designers maintain is in making innovative color decisions without creating design that is irrelevant to the consumer. That is as true in graphic design as it is in fashion.

Have you ever met a color blind designer? Not at Klündt | Hosmer.