How Are List of Colors Selected for Next Years Design Trends?

A few years ago, I had an opportunity to attend the International Gift Fair at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. While I was there, I came across a company that sold a book that was considered to be like the Bible for designers. This book cost thousands of dollars for a subscription.

The content was a "forward look" at the colors and marketing concepts that were "forecast" to be the hot trends in the coming season. This forecast, could also be seen as a direct influence on what would be showing up throughout designs and products coming to the marketplace as manufacturers follow their predictions (kind of a chicken in the egg thing). Not knowing what will sell well, they rely on these color and design predictions as the ultimate authority.

After speaking with the representative, I discovered that there are people out there whose job it is to "predict' these color and design trends. The main reason predictions are needed was the "time to market" for production. Manufacturing needs lead time in order to produce products for the coming season. They want their products to reflect what is that season's hot sellers.

While all of the formulas and insights are very hush-hush, she did, however, disclose one trade secret about predicting color trends. Certain events in society impact color trends which are closely monitored when the design industry decides what will be the next big design trend for that year.

These impacts include things such as the mood of the nation. When things are gloomy, designers tend to introduce bright, happy colors as a way of attracting people to purchase new items. The happy colors give people a lift. When the country has been saturated by florescent colors, the trends go to neutrals in the coming seasons.

Colors play a major role in what shows up in stores. Without new color trends in design and fashion, our manufacturing industry would likely come to a halt. This year purple is back in style. Next year, who knows what will be the next big color trend?

Source:
Personal visit to San Francisco Gift Show
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