The Pantone Color Institute — widely regarded as a global authority on color — began in the 1950s as a commercial print company seeking to solve a specific problem: standardizing color reproduction.
In 1963, the company introduced the Pantone Matching System to catalog and accurately reproduce thousands of colors in its library. Over time, Pantone expanded into custom color development, creating several now-iconic trademarked colors such as Target’s bold red and Tiffany & Co.’s distinctive blue.
Pantone began selecting a Color of the Year in 1999, starting with Cerulean (PANTONE 15-4020), chosen to represent the new millennium with a sense of calm, stability, and reflection. Each year, a Pantone committee — which includes many graphic designers — engages in an extensive, year-long process to determine the next Color of the Year. The selected color then shapes Pantone’s brand identity for the year, appearing across campaigns, merchandise, and collaborations.
2025’s Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, was selected for its ability to evoke feelings of thoughtful indulgence, harmonious comfort, and contentment. Pantone described the hue as reflecting a broader cultural desire to feel grounded amid uncertain times.
