Color trends planned well in advance by designers

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Debbie Ikerd is a designer with Habersham Interiors.|ret||ret||tab|

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Have you ever wondered how color trends are defined? New spring colors, hot colors for fall, latest summer hues says whom? |ret||ret||tab|

The Color Marketing Group, an international association, is celebrating 38 years of interpreting color and design trends. This group of 1,700 designers from around the world represents a multitude of industries and products, and convenes twice a year to identify "best seller colors" that will appear in the marketplace within the next 12 to 18 months.|ret||ret||tab|

Color forecasting workshops held at the Color Marketing Group annual conference help to interpret the direction of color. A wide variety of factors influence color choices, ranging from the economy, environment, politics, sports and social issues to cultural events worldwide. |ret||ret||tab|

Designers also evaluate which colors are actually in use in the marketplace during these workshops. It is important to understand the forces and factors that influence shifts in color direction. In today's color palettes, there is a softening of colors to a mid-tone palette. Since Sept. 11 there is much more use of pink, denoting freshness and innocence. |ret||ret||tab|

Color has a tremendous emotional impact on our lives. As consumers search for tranquility in their homes the use of soothing blues and aquatic colors is gaining prominence. Soon, fun colors will begin to emerge purples moving to lilacs, pinks changing to reds now that the pressure of war is somewhat removed.|ret||ret||tab|

Upon identifying the direction of color, the members will then translate that information into colors for manufactured products in more than 650 industries such as interior/exterior home, transportation, fashion, health care, retail and hospitality/entertainment. |ret||ret||tab|

Colors are inter-industry related one industry influencing another, causing color to be dynamic. The Color Marketing Group also is connected with four International ColorLinks, which assist in establishing global communications on the influences of color direction. |ret||ret||tab|

In reviewing the history of color, many color trends throughout the decades are easy to identify:|ret||ret||tab|

1950s The war is over and color explodes in bright pastels. Appliances are aqua, yellow and pink.|ret||ret||tab|

1960s America now has color television! Avocado green and harvest gold appliances with touches of yellow and orange are a must-have.|ret||ret||tab|

1970s Flower children are popping up throughout the United States and earth tones dominate the color palettes. |ret||ret||tab|

1980s Gray takes over and blues catch on. Most notable, the "mauve age" begins. |ret||ret||tab|

1990s Color becomes rich and vibrant. Jewel tones and greens are dominant teal green, sage green and hunter green.|ret||ret||tab|

2002-2003 Colors are lighter, softer and more complex. Special effects and color technology are major influences on color. Metallic colorations and shimmering elegance make old colors look new and broaden consumer appeal. |ret||ret||tab|

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Into the future|ret||ret||tab|

The Color Marketing Group has just announced the 2004 Consumer Color Directions. Chameleon colors will be introduced in purples and blues denoting a spiritual, calming quality. |ret||ret||tab|

Colors will be light-infused, creating glowing, luminous colors now available through the use of technology. Mineral influence will also be seen in the 2004 color palette. Metallic finishes bring strength and longevity to products. |ret||ret||tab|

Home fashion will focus on innocence, freshness and elegance. A sample of 2004 colors include:|ret||ret||tab|

Crystal sky brilliant blue sky, clean and clear;|ret||ret||tab|

Soho green fusion of bronze and gold creates 21st-century green;|ret||ret||tab|

Good earth freshly tilled new brown;|ret||ret||tab|

Tickle a happy red;|ret||ret||tab|

Jolt neon citrus;|ret||ret||tab|

Tusk ivory with reflections of silver; and |ret||ret||tab|

Nougat blush with undertones of copper.|ret||ret||tab|

So the next time you stroll through the mall, keep in mind there is a master plan to the color palette of those products you see. The color choices were decided two years ago by a group of color professionals.|ret||ret||tab|

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