Top Trending Color for 2021

Rich colors found in nature will dominate in the year to come, based on Shutterstock's analysis of pixel data together with image download data. 

Shutterstock, a leading global creative platform offering full-service solutions for brands, businesses and media in need of high-quality content, tools and services, today announced its 2021 Color Trends report. By analyzing pixel data from the year's top downloads and mapping each pixel color to a HEX code, the report reveals the three fastest-growing colors that will tell the story of 2021, as well as local favorites from around the world. 

The top three 2021 colors include: 

- Set Sail Champagne (#FAEBD7): a soft, glowing tint of white evoking an escapist desire to embark on a new journey

- Fortuna Gold (#DAA520): a rich shade of gold representing the chance happenings and happy coincidences found in life's moments

- Tidewater Green (#2F4F4F): a deep teal with touches of yellow and blue-just like the constant ebb and flow of ocean tides, this color is a reminder that change is a given

"For years, brands and agencies have used bold colors to stand out in a crowded content landscape; however, 2020 has forced creatives to be more purposeful in their strategies. We see them turning to optimistic colors that inspire a sense of hope-a sense that positive change is coming," said Flo Lau, Creative Director at Shutterstock. "With nearly 2 million global customers leveraging Shutterstock's library to create innovative, fresh and timely content for their campaigns and projects, their recent download choices are reflecting a shift in creative thought. They're leaving behind the bright, saturated hues that defined 2020 and moving towards 2021 with a rich, natural palette that speaks to new opportunities, and more simply, a desire to get outside and get away." 

Shutterstock's 2021 color report also makes a projection about the biggest color trends per country. The report reveals the biggest color of 2021 will be "Dark Violet" for the U.S., "Light Coral" in the U.K., "Medium Slate Blue" in Canada, "Indigo" in France and "Lime Green" in Spain.