9 Gender-Neutral Products to Shop in Honor of Pantone’s Color of the Year

The Pantone Color of the Year 2021: Illuminating and Ultimate Gray

save article

Published December 14, 2020

pantone unveils the 2021 colors of the year illuminating yellow and ultimate gray

Image: Shutterstock

The Pantone Color Institute, a global authority when it comes to color in the design industry, recently announced The Pantone Color of the Year 20201: Illuminating and Ultimate Gray. While Illuminating is a bright and vibrant yellow that evokes feelings of warmth and cheerfulness, Ultimate Gray is conversely rooted in a firm foundation, bringing forth feelings of resilience and composure.

When joined together, the two, “create an aspirational color pairing, conjoining deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the optimistic promise of a sunshine filled day,” the Institute states in its press release. Following a challenging year for many, the two colors are meant to symbolize both the strength of endurance and the hope that brighter days lay ahead.

“The selection of two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it’s not about one color or one person, it’s about more than one. The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow Illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude,” Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute said in the press release. “Practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted, this is essential to the human spirit.”

Not only does the pairing make for a beautiful message as we all head into the new year, but it also provides a wonderful gender-neutral palette for parents and parents-to-be. We’ve rounded up some baby gear in the Pantone Color of the Year 2021, perfect for your nursery or playroom, below.