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Color Marketing Group Forecasts for 2003

Color is one of the most powerful elements in decorating. Yet have you ever wondered why appliances show up in red one year and blue the next? Why fabrics begin appearing in metallics, watery blues, and purple one year and soothing greens the next?

If you've noticed these trends then more than likely you're seeing the work of the Color Marketing Group, the international, not-for-profit association of more than 1,700 Color and Design professionals who identify and forecast color trends for all products and industries.

The colors they've forecasted for for consumer products in 2003 were actually chosen in April of 2001 at a meeting of more than 600 members of CMG in Orlando, Florida.

CMG members representing many industries including Fashion, Durable Home, Exterior Home, Home Fashion, Home Office, and Transportation develop cross-industry short- and long-range color forecasts for manufactured products -- everything from cars to towels.

CMG's Forecasts guide designers as they develop new colors for their product lines. "CMG members participating in the 2003 Consumer Color Directions Workshops focused on an industry-specific Palette and a much larger Forecast Palette with 21 colors, up from 16 last year," said Terrie Buch-O'Dell, CMG, Co-Chairman, Consumer Color Directions Committee, Nevamar Decorative Surfaces, Odenton, MD, USA.

Color Marketing Group Forecasts for 2003

For 2003, CMG predicts that blues will again be in the forefront of design.

Their color announcement notes that, "The search for the perfect Blue yields four perfect directions for blues. Whether safe and grounded, watery or atmospheric, Forecast Blues invigorate and enliven consumer products while providing steadfast assurance and stability during cloudy economic times."

"In addition, special color effects and technology reign supreme as primary influences on color. Metal colorations add new direction. The newness of liquid Silver and its techno influence when married to Gold or to White is equally important to the shimmering elegance of golden tones and the opulent impact of Silver."

Violet appears again as well as a more energized dusty rose form of Mauve. Fashion forecasts two Blues for 2003, one a turquoise and the other is "Deep Artic" which appears on CMG's 2003 Consumer Color Directions Palette.

Technology will continue to open doors to new colors and to special color effects, which allow old colors to look new. "Silger", for example, is a finish that appears to mix both gold and silver tones, and is a strong trend in home products.

As in many industries, the state of the US economy is the primary influence on the 2003 Consumer Color Directions Palette.

"We have experienced new found energy using full chroma hues that can lift our spirits and provoke our senses. With a rebel yell, we protest a total shift to 'establishment colors'," said Barbara Lazarow, CMG, Co-Chairman, Consumer Color Direction Committee, Blonder Wall Coverings, Cleveland, OH USA.

She also noted that "For color we look to the prosperous times of the 20's and 60's and to the glamour of the 30's and 40's. Automobiles sport "Gatsby" colors in glittering Golds and pearlescent Whites as well as silver-tinted Whites and Taupes. These colors translate well into luxury fashion as the Fashion Workshop discussed rich velvets, shimmery satins and vintage Valentino."

Commercialized nature colors and the desire for natural bright will appear in Action/Recreation products. Also, the influence of energy-boosting, saturated chromatics from the 60's on color will be evident by 2003.

Next Page: 2003 Color List