Stock image company Shutterstock today released its 2020 Colour Trends report, detailing the rise and fall of certain shades.
In Australia, the top trending colour for 2020 is a vibrant Magenta (#FF00FF), a perfect fit for our upcoming summer season. The feel-good colour creates a feeling of sophistication for brands while maintaining a sense of brightness that resonates with Australia’s carefree nature.
By analysing billions of pixel data from images downloaded, and then mapping each pixel to its closest named hex code, the report reveals which colours had the greatest growth between 2018 and 2019, as well as local favourites from around the world. Shutterstock’s 1.9 million customers include designers, marketers, creatives, and bloggers who are often working months in advance on campaigns and projects. Their download choices help to forecast trends in the year ahead.
Globally, the colours that have grown the most in popularity include:
- Lush Lava – #FF4500: A bold and fiery orange-red that quickly catches the eye—the noticeably warm colour will help companies draw attention to their brand.
- Aqua Menthe – #7FFFD4: A vivid, cyan-tinged mint shade that is perfect for conveying a playful, modern, and outgoing brand personality.
- Phantom Blue – #191970: A rich navy with significant depth, mimicking a dramatic night sky—ideal for more professional, mature brand look and feel.
“In a visually crowded media and advertising world, standing out is both an art form and a challenge for brands. Colour is naturally a powerful tool in helping brands garner attention with their audiences in an effective and meaningful way,” said Shutterstock CMO Lou Weiss.
“As we look to 2020, the data shows a clear shift from the turbo-charged neons of 2019 to more elevated, bold, and saturated colours that command attention in a sophisticated way.”
In addition to the top three fastest-growing colours in popularity globally, the report also highlights the top trending colour for 24 countries. From a mossy green in South Korea, to a dark orchid in Brazil, these shades show local favourites across different regions, which are also based on year-over-year growth.
