ColorForward™ 2023

Generational Changes, Environmental Concerns, and a New Digital Universe Expected to Drive Color Preferences in 2023

ColorForward™ 2023, the 17th edition of the annual color forecasting guide for the plastics industry created by the Avient ColorWorks™ team, presents four global trend stories that capture the emotions that can be expected to influence consumers’ response to color over the next few years. The result is a unique package of inspirational materials, including 20 colors or color effects, to help plastic product designers and marketing professionals make more informed color choices for new products and packaging.

Mare Tranquillitatis is drawn from the lingering influence of the COVID 19 pandemic which has sparked increasing awareness and concern about mental health, along with its care and treatment. The color palette blends cool, transparent shades with multidimensional fluorescent, plus a random splash effect to represent growing acceptance of the medical use of certain psychoactive substances.

Code Blue is not so much about the color itself, but rather the hospital alarm message indicating an extreme emergency – in this case, the planet is the patient in climate crisis. Here the colors are earthy, appropriately toned down, dark and somewhat dirty to reflect the anxiety many people are experiencing.

CatalyჇt has a backward ‘S’ -- a reference to Generation Z and other young generations whose fears for the future are particularly acute, leading them to push for action not just on climate but on a whole range of issues that will shape the world. This trend is represented by a palette of mostly bright, hopeful, serious colors.

Meet-your-verse has the most eclectic family of colors, including transparent, metallic, interferential, and special effects, a nod to the emerging influence of “The Metaverse.” Forecast to be as important an innovation as the internet, it promises to open up a whole new world that accommodates different means of human interaction as well as a potential escape from reality.

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ColorForward 2023

Color Trend Predictions for 2023

ColorForward™ Delivers Invaluable Insights

for Consumer Product/Packaging Developers

Generational Changes, Environmental Concerns, and a New Digital Universe Expected to Drive Color Preferences in 2023

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ColorForward™ 2023