Trends in Color Forecast 2010/2011: Quadrivium

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A. Quadrivium is defined by Wickipedia.com as being derived from Latin and meaning "the four ways" or "the four roads": the completion of the liberal arts. The quadrivium consisted of arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy. Pythagorus is chiefly responsible for these four branches of science.

“You can’t understand who we are unless you understand who we were. ”

–David McCullough

Color is heavily reliant on people and the attitudes today. With all the social discord happening in society, one can look at past historical parallels for clues. With the interest more in science and the tangible hard-facts, a trend of Egyptian culture will be hearkened for their strong engineering and coupled with the ancient Greek and Roman’s philosophical stance’s and questioning curiosity. A broad expanse of desert sands and mineral inspired color schemes will abound with a contrast of an inky blue blackness of the celestial sky. You can see Grecian asymmetry very heavily in the fashion’s of tomorrow. This Greek style was copied again during the French Revolution & The “Enlightenment” which influenced the neoclassical style.

Some high-end fashion and home industry markets have been leaning towards classic palettes, with their timeless high-tint tones and soft color differences that will be easy on the eyes and provide a break from the cacophony of reality. Very similar to the 1990’s neutral palette, these provide stability and safety, a sense of comfort and permanence. These cooler tones reflect the analytical and logical sense of our time. So as opposed to the earth tones of the 1990’s, a tilt to a cooler, more static or concrete color palette will resonate with today’s color applications.

Two different generations that will be represented through color and style in this category: The babyboomer and genY because of their prevalence today and their retro throwbacks. Think 1980’s New Romantics, updated Victorian motif’s and 1980’s art deco snowballing together into stark contrast patterns of black and white.