Advanced Colour 2027

This cross-category forecast identifies transformational

innovations and design concepts that will captivate
consumers and bring forward fresh colour strategies

Reiko Morrison & Clare Smith

08.12.22 - 10 minutes

The Unseen Beauty

Overview
This five-year forecast establishes the principal colour innovations that will spur
visionary creations. The world will evolve physically as well as digitally, with differing
approaches for each medium. In this new phygital world, developing innovative colour
systems and strategies will be just as important as generating inspiring colour
palettes.
By 2027, the growing prominence of disruptive forces, such as the shift toward
sustainability and a circular economy, will have wide implications for the pigment and
dye markets. The global organic pigments market is set to continue expanding at a
CAGR around 5.0% 2017-2027, with the organic pigments market to reach an anticipated
value of USD 5.9 billion by 2027, according to Research Nester.
On the other end of the colour spectrum, colour within the metaverse will continue to
be a tool of creative expression and break boundaries. Synthetic colour effects that
exist in the digital realm will spur recreated simulations in real life for awe-inspiring
experiences.
To cope with the dramatic shifts in society, technology, politics, industry and the
environment, the need for mood-enhancing and wellness colours will increase. The
power of colour and its creative, curative properties will be sought after and
appreciated.

PILI

France-based biotech company Pili takes microbial enzymes re-engineered to produce brilliant,
effective dyes from renewable resources while scaling up its operations. The dyes can colour
materials like textiles, packaging and plastics

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Eco positive
The nature first approach will be a fully
engrained strategy and innovations to address
chemical circularity will enable more low-
impact methods for colours to impact on a
wider variety of materials and processes.
Recycled: London-based DyeRecycle’s tech
selectively extracts dyes from waste fibres and
transfer them to new fabric. Swedish company
Trifilon has found a way to reinforce
polypropylene with cotton fibres from used
DyeRecycle Trifilon Atelier Luma
clothing.
Bio-bas ed: Atelier LUMA, based in Arles,
developed a sunflower-based composite
material with soundproofing capabilities,
coloured with mineral pigments. Scientist and
designer Jesse Adler, who is based in London,
extracts coloured pigments from fungi such as
mushrooms, lichen, yeast and mould. Lamps
from Chile are made from horse hair and
vegetable fibres dyed with natural pigments
from Rari village.
How to imp lement: invest in advanced bio-
based and circular pigment and dye tech to
achieve bright colours for textiles, plastics, Plastplan

paints and cosmetics.

Iceland-based Plastpan's colourful
accessories and furniture are made solely from
recycled plastic using machines based on
Precious Plastic's open source designs for
Jesse Adler Lamps From Chile
processing recycled plastics

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Grounded neutrals
Plant and mineral-based pigments, dyes, fibres
and plastics will reflect reverence for
authentic, natural colours of warm terrestrial
hues.
Precious s tone: The STAPLE & Fossil limited
edition watch was created by the NY agency
and US brand to appear as if it were excavated
from the Earth, with a terrazzo-stone look.
Spanish studio Plantea Estudio’s design for
Hermosilla Restaurant in Madrid features
Sulapac
earthy tones of coral-red marble, dark wood
and red-orange bricks. Finland-based Sulpac’s 100% bio-based
S mog-bas ed: architect Iris de Kievith and biodegradable material is made from wood
Fossil PLANTEA Estudio
and plant-based binders
designer Annemarie Piscaer, both from the
Netherlands, found a way to harvest air
pollution dust and use it for ceramic glazing,
creating porcelain tableware called
Smogware.
Naturally coloured: Netherlands-based
designer Lionne van Deursen's Unfold material
research project explores how living
microorganisms in bacteria and yeast create a
biofilm that becomes solid when dried. It’s
biodegradable, strong and can easily be folded
into a desired shape.
How to imp lement: embrace the subtle earthy
Trimco
tones of naturally coloured fibres, ceramic,
plastics, paints and air pollution. Trimco Group, a global supplier of brand
identity products, offers a PU alternative made
Smogware Studio Lionne van Deursen
from 55% coffee ground and 45% rPET

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Essential white
Brands will continue to develop products using
the bare minimum of ingredients by removing
unnecessary colourants and incorporating
elements with a more positive environmental
impact.
Undyed: British brand Vollebak’s Raw Hemp
Hoodie breaks away from standard dyeing
processes in the industry and is left beautiful
ivory white, its natural state.
Biodegradable: South Korean company Vollebak Hidalab Sulapac
Hidalab’s innovative moulding process features
an Apple Leather skin with naturally seeded,
tiny dot patterns to maximise the vegan
concept. Finland's Sulpac Premium injection
mouldable material is 85% bio-based, with
wood chips lending a warm touch.
Recycled: The Converse Sponge CX Crater by
the US brand features a natural ivory white
overall colour, with a foam body made from
rubber scraps from the footwear
manufacturing process.
How to imp lement: utilise undyed and non-
coloured whites for recycled resin, foam,
Metaform Architects Miguel Arraiz
ceramic, natural and synthetic fibres and paper
packaging. Dubai firm Metaform Architects’ Möbino Àgora València pavilion uses natural white tiles
espresso cup features a semi-translucent, off- made from a ceramic-like mineral surface
Ambush x Converse
white colour of hand-crafted ceramic glaze material made from 50% recycled material

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Elemental grey
In our 2026 Advanced Colour Forecast, we
identified grey linked to eco-conscious design.
Innovations that upcycle paper pulp and
textiles to create new materials were
highlighted. Advances in low-impact solutions
will be embraced for ubiquitous grey.
Living: bio-manufacturer StudioMOM’s bike
helmet is made of mycelium and covered with
hemp textile. The Dutch company's resulting
colour is a natural grey with an organic,
StudioMOM Alex Mill Nio
mottled texture.
Plant-bas ed: the rainwater, plant-based
Carbon Bio Char dyed classic Work Jacket by
New York-based Alex Mill features a cool,
faded grey. Shanghai-based brand Nio's ET7
uses Karuun, a renewable rattan laminate with
a dark grey wood grain texture against a white
background.
Sun dyed: New York Sunshine and Dickies use
the power of the sun to fade US brand Dickies’
blue twill cloth into a medium cool grey colour
on strategically chosen portions of the
garments.
Atelier LVDW Trimco
How to imp lement: find new eco-friendly ways
to achieve greys for textiles, plastics and Dutch studio Atelier LVD developed variegated Global brand identity supplier Trimco Group
composites. grey eggshell ceramic with OurCarbon provides bespoke, industrial concrete retail
New York Sunshine
pigment made from organic waste display accessories for a raw, modern look

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Simulated effects
The concept of meta imagination, where
fantasy shapes ideas, will be accelerated by
the metaverse. Colour effects created digitally
will be recreated in the physical world,
generating just as much awe as the digitised
versions.
Digital: Netherlands-based digital artist Rik
Oostenbroek, known for dynamic forms and
unique abstract shapes, has mesmerising
colour-changing effects in Mirage. UK-based
Rik Oostenbroek Michael Staniak Angel Oloshove
luxury fashion house Auroboros creates
fantastical virtual outfits with morphing colour
effects.
Multidimens ional: artist Michael Staniak,
based in Australia, sculpts stone-like abstract
forms adorned with vivid colour gradients that
have iridescent qualities similar to the smooth
ceramic sculptures of US-based Angel
Oloshove Studio. The multicolour transparent
gradient applied over a brushed metal surface
creates an intriguing optical effect on Korea-
based manufacturer Hidalab’s cosmetic
package concept.
How to imp lement: go beyond what traditional Hidalab Gioele Amaro

iridescent and holographic pigments can do

The multicolour transparent gradient applied Italy based artist Gioele Amaro creates digital
and push the limits of visual effects with to brushed metal creates an intriguing optical paintings printed on canvas that are layered
unexpected colour gradients and surface effect on Korean company Hidalab’s cosmetic with varnish and paint for a shiny, iridescent
Auroboros
textures. package concept and illusory quality

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Revolutionary structures
Structural Colour Stu…
Stu…
Scientific achievements with structural and bio-
based colour will unleash magical and
imaginative possibilities that were once only a
dream.
Nano tech: Structural Colour Studio, based in
Finland, and Cypris Materials in California are
developing coatings based on nano-structured
particles that refract light into different
colours, without use of traditional pigments or
dyes, and are better for the environment.
The Unseen Aradhita Parasrampuria
Designed with microprism tech, Colour
Alchemy, made by UK-based The Unseen, is a
temporary hair colour with shade-shifting
properties, which changes colour in response
to sunlight and temperature.
Algae-bas ed: NY materials designer Aradhita
Parasrampuria has developed algae-based
beads made bioluminescent with jelly fish
protein and experimental kelp polymer beads
that transform colour in sunlight and water.
How to imp lement: invest in forward
technologies for coatings, plastics, metals,
leather, cosmetics and synthetics.
Science Advances

National Research Foundation of Korea and

Korea Toray Science Foundation develop
structural-colour colloidal photonic inks that
Cypris Materials, Inc Aradhita Parasrampuria
can reverse colour when stretched and relaxed

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Ultra black
Carbon black will remain dominant, with its
global market value projected to grow to
$26bn by 2027, according to Lucintel. The quest
for the darkest black possible continues
alongside more eco-conscious developments.
Extreme darknes s : Musou Black paint
supplied by Koyo Orient Japan is regarded
among the world’s blackest water-based
acrylic paint and made headlines when applied
to a Porsche 911 car, courtesy of Pit One.
KOYO Orient Japan Hemp Black Balenciaga
Germany based EMD Group’s Xirallic NXT
Amur Black has intense darkness with a bluish
metallic highlight and strong hiding power.
Bio-bas ed: US company Hemp Black's Oroton
Backpack combines the latest nanotechnology
with 100% hemp canvas and vegan leather in an
inherent deep black colour.
Dramatic: The collab between Denmark's
Bang & Olufsen and Balenciaga produced the
limited-edition Ink Black Speaker Bag, unveiled
during the France-based house's couture show
in Paris.
How to imp lement: seek the darkest and
Atmosphere Office
lowest impact black pigment sources for Serkan Altınörs
textile printing, packaging, plastics, rubber Shanghai-based Atmosphere Architects
and coatings. creates an optical illusion in Kill Via Kindness’ Turkish graphic design studio offfstudio’s low
jewellery store using matte black panels poly NFT art explores various mediums for
contrasting the white ceiling and floor, making black, such as matte, textured and smooth
EMD Group
it seem larger along with a crystal ball effect

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AI colour
Adobe Sensei – AI A…
A…
As AI and machine intelligence continues to
advance, designers will learn how to use it to
enhance colour combinations and effects.
Voice activated: American paint supplier
Sherwin Williams provides a Speaking in Color
AI-powered paint tool. Users can describe a
mood and the tool creates a customised colour
palette to match.
Intelligent: AI tools such as Midjourney and
DALL-E 2 are creative playgrounds where Sherwin Williams Midjourney
designers explore the artworks generated with
their unlimited colour imagination. Adobe’s
Sensei AI tool seeks to streamline workflows
by blending data and creativity, making colour
adjustments easier.
Generate: colour palette generators such as
Huemint and Khroma use machine learning to
create unique colour schemes for branding,
websites or graphics.
How to imp lement: take advantage of these
intelligent tools to inspire and streamline
colour development.

Huemint Khroma LateFX

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Phenomenal experiences
Creative stimulation and energy will take hold
as we crave immersive experiences with
enriching, mood-enhancing colour.
Cap tivating: Seth the Globe Painter, based in
France, created a colourful scene applied to a
mundane urban space to transform it into a
three-dimensional tunnel that surrounds the
viewer as they walk closer. Metaverse
company Spatial Systems updated its NFT
gallery with new colour options so users can
@seth_globepainter James Turrell Spatial
personalise virtual galleries with their unique
flair.
Enlightened: Skyspace by James Turrell is a
one-of-a-kind experiential installation by the
US artist that envelopes visitors with kinetic
light and colour, creating a sensory and
contemplative experience. Portgugal-based
Mycoocoon consultancy provides colour
therapy using harmonic coloured lighting to
inspire wellness, while French firm h2o
Architectes has designed a colourful studio for
the Louvre museum, painted in varying levels
of a vivid orange-red.
How to imp lement: invest in techniques that 180 The Strand

bring transformative experiences to interior

180 Studios and Fact present an immersive
and exterior spaces. sound and colourful exhibition called Future
Shock in London by blurring boundaries
h2o Architectes Mycoocoon
between the physical and virtual

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Renewing colour
As people focus on living with intent,
companies across industries are using uplifting
colour in the future of wellness.
Har monious : Israel-based company Editor X’s
web based creation platform designed a
harmonious visual by teaming a transparent
video with a fluid gradient background.
Connection: Swiss flavour and fragrance
company Givaudan enhances its message of
healing ingredients by using soft pastel Editor x Givaudan Vibezone
colours. Vibezone, founded by Korea's
Samsung, created an IoT device and app for k-
pop idols to connect with fans in a discreet way
by using clean, fresh pastels.
Ethereal: Korea-based lacquer artist Jeong
Eun-jin applies uplifting pastel hues with a
matte finish to cups by glass artist Youn Tae-
sung. The Italian company Florim and CEDIT
Ceramiche d’Italia hosted a virtual reality
exhibit at Milan Design Week 2022, taking
visitors into a dreamlike realm.
How to imp lement: use energising pastel
tones to promote optimism. Apply them to
Pangaia Youn Tae-sung x Jeong Eun-jin Florim
textiles, plastics, metal, glass and ceramic
surfaces.

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1 234
Action points

Continue low-impact colour Stay ahead of the curve via Take a nature-first approach Inspire and invigorate the
sourcing science senses

By 2027, there will be more eco-friendly Partner with scientific researchers, Allow natural colours of bio-based Surround people with saturated
options for pigments and dyes that can innovators, industry startups and materials, pigments and dyes to shine colours that have a kinetic effect in
be used to colour textiles, plastics, chemical manufacturers to stay at the through without additional coatings that sensorial environments, or stimulate
coatings, metals and surfaces. Sourcing forefront of new developments that cover up their beauty the senses with fresh, energising pastel
the ones with the most positive effect will have the biggest impact on hues to promote healing and wellbeing
on the environment is key conserving the environment and return
on investment

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