US EditionPantone Reveals 'Controversial' Colour of the Year
Pantone's selection of Cloud Dancer White marks the first pure white Colour of the Year, reflecting a global desire for calm and simplicity amid overstimulation.
- This year, Pantone revealed PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer as its 2026 Colour of the Year, marking the first time the institute chose a pure white.
- Driven by a feeling of overload, the institute cited a world overwhelmed by `24/7 hustle culture` seeking simplicity, clarity and a reset, Pantone says.
- The institute described PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer as a billowy white that `encourages true relaxation and focus`, acting as a `blank canvas` for fresh creativity.
- Pantone expected debate and noted the pick as `controversial`, with designers praising its versatility while others called it uninspired, and online users on Instagram and Facebook labeled it `boring` and `culturally insensitive`.
- Since 1999, Pantone's Colour of the Year programme has engaged the design community and colour enthusiasts worldwide while aiming to forecast a cultural pulse influencing global culture.
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13 Articles
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Woke white women have been melting down over Pantone revealing its annual Color of the Year is a shade of white -- with some raging the choice is tone-deaf and is proof the "whitewashing of America has gone too far."
Is the Pantone Colour of the Year Rage Bait? The Cloud Dancer Controversy, Explained
Pantone's 2026 Colour of the Year has sparked some backlash, and many believe this was entirely intentional. On one side, “Rage Bait" has become the buzzword of 2025 on Urban Dictionary, where a new term gains legitimacy each year. When Pantone announced “Cloud Dancer” as its colour of 2026, reactions were mixed. Some people see it as just a shade — not really a full-fledged colour — but then a hint of grey pushes it into the colour category. Wh…
It goes with all shades, it is a color that opens up space, calms down visual noise, and allows materials, shapes, and textures to come to the fore in interior spaces.
Pantone reveals 'controversial' colour of the year
Pantone’s 2026 colour of the year – a shade of white – has been hailed as a “controversial” selection. The global color standard system company revealed that the shade Cloud Dancer was chosen as it has “a calming influence”. The initiative, which began in 1999, is part of its vision to “engage the design community and color enthusiasts around the world in a conversation around color.” PANTONE COLOUR OF THE YEAR IS WHITE! This week, Pantone revea…
The Pantone color of the year is… white
Pantone has announced its color of the year for 2026, and it is white. According to the description of the color in the announcement: PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer [is] a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection. — Read the rest The post The Pantone color of the year is… white appeared first on Boing Boing.
Why Pantone’s 2026 colour of the year is causing controversy
Pantone has unveiled its 2026 Colour of the Year and for the first time in 26 years, it’s a shade of white but “Cloud Dancer” is already sparking heated debate across the design world and social media.
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