What's next in colour?
Introducing NCS Colour Trends
NCS Colour Trends is our yearly trend forecast that gives a unique insight into the international drivers for colour, offering relevant colour palettes and attributes to suit any market and industry. Learn more about the project, its development and the yearly trends below!
Just launched! NCS Colour Trends 2025+
Explore previous trend years
The importance of colour
Colour is the very first feature we notice on an object or in a space. This first perception immediately leads us to the conclusion whether we like what we see or not. Colour is important, more so than we generally realise. Research has shown that a purchase decision is based up to 90% purely on what colour a product has. Therefore, it is fundamental for manufacturers and producers to be able to decide on exactly the right colour, at the right time.
The difference between the right colour and the wrong colour is sometimes very small, which means that exact colour description and analysis is important. If you master the ability to define which colour will be trendy and therefore more likely to appeal to consumers, you are also more likely to succeed with your project.
Developing Colour Trends
NCS System as a forecast foundation
With the NCS System, we can describe any surface colour and give it the visual description, an NCS code. The NCS System is based on the elementary colours, creating a descriptive model called the NCS Colour Space, which takes a very important role in identifying exact colour positions or colour areas of the hue and the nuance. The NCS Colour Circle that describes the hue of a colour, and the NCS Colour Triangle which describes the nuance of a colour.
To be able to describe the direction and the colour movements, and map our preferences, the NCS Colour Space is a necessary tool. By plotting the colours into the NCS Colour Circle and the NCS Triangle, we can analyse the colours of the past, the preferred colours of today, and with this conclude into which direction the colour hues and nuances will move.
Colour trends are psychology; it is all about understanding which colours that are important and make us feel happy, meaningful, and functional. It is fundamental to understand what is going on in our society, and how these happenings and events are affecting us. This means both which colours are popular and which moods are dominating amongst us.
the process
Developing NCS Colour Trends
Developing trend colours is a dynamic and creative process, based on data, analysis and staying ahead of societal shifts, cultural movements and events. As trends emerge from different parts of the world, global influences need to be considered. At NCS Colour, we have worked with trend forecasting for 10+ years. Together with a team of international CMF and trend experts, we set out on our mission to annually deliver a trend forecast, entailing the most sought after colours for the coming years, along with insights in materials and finishes.
Each trend expert participates with their own colour analysis at a workshop, covering their explicit field of expertise. The last couple of years the workshop has been arranged at Baolab, Milan, Italy. Together, the trend council analyses the forecasts, spending plenty of time to align, discuss and share thoughts, defining the most important drivers. This is followed by sessions where the colours are selected accordingly, forming the result which is the NCS Colour Trends forecast. The forecast is shared in an exclusive magazine, together with a fan deck which gives a good overview of the colours. The fan deck is coated and produced in the highest quality possible, to give the best representation of the colour.
Get to know the trend council
The forecast is developed by a team consisting of internationally renowned experts within their field. NCS Colour Trends represents a comprehensive, cross-functional, international colour analysis. The primary objective is to provide stakeholders and industry professionals involved in colour decisions guidance in the process of selecting colours for their missions. The forecast is researched and curated by renowned colour experts who contribute their insights about global socio-cultural trends and CMF – colours, materials and finishes. A special thanks to our trend panel for their valuable input in our trend forecasts.
Creative Director & Colour Advisor, NCS ColourKarl Johan Bertilsson
Karl Johan Bertilsson has worked with colour since 1997 in more than 70 countries, assisting designers, architects, universities, and industries to become successful with colour; covering from design to production, sales and marketing.
”Our colour preferences change over time. We have to understand how and in what direction our colour preferences change to make our designs successful. This is why colour trends are important. For 2025, like the world, our colour preferences will differ quite dramatically, it is a year of big contrasts.”
French Global Design AgencyNacarat Design
Nacarat Design is a strategic and valuable partner of more than 150 multinational companies, using colour to enhance the value of spaces, architecture, brands and products.
“Colour creates meaning and evokes emotion. At Nacarat, the French Global Design Agency, we use it to enhance the value of spaces, objects, brands and products. NCS Colour Trend Forecasting allows us to magnify the potential of colour creation.”
Nacarat Design is a strategic and valuable partner of more than 150 multinational companies, using colour to enhance the value of spaces, architecture, brands and products.
“Colour creates meaning and evokes emotion. At Nacarat, the French Global Design Agency, we use it to enhance the value of spaces, objects, brands and products. NCS Colour Trend Forecasting allows us to magnify the potential of colour creation.”
Baolab, Milan, ItalyEmma Clerici & Manuela Bonaiti
Founded by Emma Clerici and Manuela Bonaiti, Baolab offers strategic insights in colours, materials and finishes.
“We’re proud to work with other experts and visionaries to develop the NCS Colour Trends. Together, we delve into the world of colours to explore and define what they signify for the future. With the collective aim of creating a future fuelled by colour and innovation.”
Founded by Emma Clerici and Manuela Bonaiti, Baolab offers strategic insights in colours, materials and finishes.
“We’re proud to work with other experts and visionaries to develop the NCS Colour Trends. Together, we delve into the world of colours to explore and define what they signify for the future. With the collective aim of creating a future fuelled by colour and innovation.”
Founder of Colour of SayingLaura Perryman
Laura is an mother trend forecaster and award receiving colour and materials designer within diverse industries.
“Until recently, our perception of ‘eco’ or ‘natural colour’ was restricted to a puritanical palette of browns, greens and creams that cost more, inspired less and added next to nothing in terms of function or performance. Yet in nature, where nothing is wasted, colour is infinite.”
Laura is an mother trend forecaster and award receiving colour and materials designer within diverse industries.
“Until recently, our perception of ‘eco’ or ‘natural colour’ was restricted to a puritanical palette of browns, greens and creams that cost more, inspired less and added next to nothing in terms of function or performance. Yet in nature, where nothing is wasted, colour is infinite.”
President, Color Marketing Group (CMG) and founder of ColourFuelPeggy Van Allen
Peggy Van Allen is a designer and colour anthropologist. For over 25 years, her mission is to help clients harness the power of colour.
“Colour is of course critical in the development of product lines for just about every industry but it is also extremely valuable as a tool in marketing. And you want to know that the colours that you are choosing are going to be future forward.”
Peggy Van Allen is a designer and colour anthropologist. For over 25 years, her mission is to help clients harness the power of colour.
“Colour is of course critical in the development of product lines for just about every industry but it is also extremely valuable as a tool in marketing. And you want to know that the colours that you are choosing are going to be future forward.”
Chief Editor China Design Trends Report, Strategy Director YANG DESIGNSXiaojing Huang
YANG DESIGN stands out as the forward thinking industrial design consultancy in China, a winner of nearly one hundred major design awards.
”In the 2024-2025 China Design Trends Report, we observe the trend that young people are willingly and passionately investing in hobbies for ideal self-image, which leads to a colour palette combining cheerful Dopamine colours and understated retro hues.”
YANG DESIGN stands out as the forward thinking industrial design consultancy in China, a winner of nearly one hundred major design awards.
”In the 2024-2025 China Design Trends Report, we observe the trend that young people are willingly and passionately investing in hobbies for ideal self-image, which leads to a colour palette combining cheerful Dopamine colours and understated retro hues.”
Global Design Manager at BASF CoatingsAstrid Van Der Auwera
Astrid Van der Auwera has worked with trend and research for more than 20 years.
“Colours mirror and influence the way we perceive and interact with products. For the automotive industry, this means translating new ideas of mobility into colour that mirror the complexity and individuality of mobility in the future!”
Astrid Van der Auwera has worked with trend and research for more than 20 years.
“Colours mirror and influence the way we perceive and interact with products. For the automotive industry, this means translating new ideas of mobility into colour that mirror the complexity and individuality of mobility in the future!”
"Over the past 10+ years of trend forecasting, NCS Colour has fine-tuned a method to anticipate trend movements using the intelligence of the NCS System and through collaboration with renowned international colour experts. We are proud to present the 2025+ trend forecast with the goal to inspire customers and offer insights into trend movements, enabling well-informed colour decisions and the creation of captivating colour harmonies across various industries."
– Elin Askfelt, CEO, NCS Colour
Helpful Design Tools
NCS Atlas 2050
With the NCS Atlas, you can easily navigate between different colours. NCS Atlas provides an overview of how the colours are related to each other both according to the logic of the NCS System and the relationship between colour and light.
NCS Album 2050
Perfect when matching colours, creating mood boards and sharing colour references with customers and suppliers.
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NCS Atlas 2050
With the NCS Atlas, you can easily navigate between different colours. NCS Atlas provides an overview of how the colours are related to each other both according to the logic of the NCS System and the relationship between colour and light.
-
NCS Album 2050
Perfect when matching colours, creating mood boards and sharing colour references with customers and suppliers.
