Interview: How Pantone translates global moods into colour

When Pantone unveils its Colour of the Year, the announcement rarely lands quietly. Designers, brands and marketers around the world immediately respond, adapting campaigns, products and visual identities to the chosen shade. But behind the cultural moment is a long, deliberate process that Pantone insists must remain independent, reflective and deeply human.

In an exclusive interview with MARKETING-INTERACTIVE, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Colour Institute, shared the intricate process behind the selection of 2026’s Colour of the Year: Cloud Dancer, a neutral white with balanced warm and cool undertones. “The colour we select to be our Pantone Colour of the Year is a colour we see crossing all areas of design; a colour that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude on the part of the consumer,” she explained.

It is a reflection of the global zeitgeist.

Don't miss: Pantone picks ‘Cloud dancer’ as 2026 colour of the year, sets off global collab wave

Pantone’s team looks far and wide for inspiration. “There are many factors that play into our colour selection on any given year, including the entertainment industry and films in production, traveling art collections and new artists, fashion, all areas of design, aspirational travel destinations, new lifestyles, playstyles, and enjoyable escapes, as well as socio-economic conditions," said Eiseman.

"Influences may also stem from new technologies, materials, textures, and effects, relevant social media platforms, and even upcoming sporting events that capture worldwide attention,” she added.

The research begins early in the previous year, as Eiseman described: “We start looking for ‘clues’ that will lead us to our ultimate choice. One of the most important areas to consider is insights into consumer mindsets, what they are seeking emotionally that might lead to specific purchases that help satisfy their needs and expectations.”

The meaning, mood, and what comes after

For Pantone, the Colour of the Year is about more than aesthetics. It is about emotional resonance and creative possibility. “Cloud Dancer is about our desire for simplicity and clarity, a desire to step back and disconnect, to relax, reflect, and allow our minds to reset, opening the door to imagination, creativity, and innovation,” Eiseman said.

The neutral white color was selected by a diverse global team of colour experts, including psychologists and trend forecasters at the Pantone Color Institute who highlight the emotional and creative resonance of a colour at a moment in time and its rising popularity in design.

She likened the colour to a blank page, ready for inspiration: “It gives us the ability to become receptive both to what can be and what’s ahead. The name ‘Cloud Dancer’ reflects a universally shared experience: wherever we are in the world, we all look up to the buoyant clouds for inspiration, wonder, and to spark imagination. In the simple act of looking up, we’re connected by the drifting lightness of clouds."

"That universality is a huge part of why Cloud Dancer was selected as the Pantone Color of the Year 2026," she explained.

The announcement often sparks rapid adoption in design and branding, or even trendjacks, but Eiseman emphasised context and skill in its use. “We have seen the growth throughout all design areas such as fashion, beauty, interiors, architecture, entertainment, packaging, and product design. The response is always based on the context and skill employed in the usage.”

Looking ahead, Eiseman is optimistic about the program’s influence.

We have seen this influence grow throughout Pantone’s history and will see it increase even more in the future as our continuing research and leadership evolve with the times.

She also highlighted Pantone’s commitment to guiding designers, marketers, and consumers alike in translating colour trends into meaningful, culturally relevant creative work.

For its launch in early December, the selection of Cloud Dancer as the 2026 Colour of the Year also sparked a wave of global collaborations across lifestyle, technology, and even multisensory experiences. From Motorola’s Edge 70 smartphone dressed in quilted vegan leather and Swarovski accents to Play-Doh’s sculptable 70th anniversary edition in Pantone white, brands are interpreting the calming, reflective qualities of the colour in playful and functional ways. Post-it’s Neutrality Collection, Command Brand’s Cloud Dancer hooks, and Pura’s meditation-inspired fragrance all extend the hue beyond sight, turning everyday objects into moments of serenity.

The collaborations even extend to experiences and hospitality. Mandarin Oriental hotels worldwide are embracing the colour in themed afternoon teas, spa treatments, and festive décor, while Joybird furniture lines cocoon living spaces in soft Cloud Dancer tones. Pantone is also experimenting with sound and typography, from a personalised Cloud Dancer playlist to a typographic expression with Monotype that evokes calm, timeless elegance.

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