‘Punch’ the second future design and colour trend as forecast by Hempel will bring tonal shades of red to the fore

There is more to colours dressing up shop shelves and interiors than one can imagine.

If you think it is casual coincidence that purple and gold are holding their own this summer then think again. Much deliberation goes into deciding which colour trends will rule the roost.

According to Mohamad Baitie, regional brand manager, Middle East, (West), Hempel Paints, Bahrain, seasonal colour trends are subject to more influences than meet the eye. It is envisaged that as the world begins to reel back from the devastating impacts of the global crisis the first green shoots of recovery will be reflected through the tonal shades of Red that are such an intrinsic part of this second series called Punch.

 “All it needs is three seconds for a shade to affect human behaviour. That’s the powerful impact of colour on your mood and feeling. Sometimes, what we feel on the inside represents itself through what we choose on the outside and this is how we read into colour trends,” says Baitie.

He advises that keeping a tab on trends that are outlined by renowned firms such as UK based Global Colour Research is rewarding to all those whose businesses are linked to colour whether in the field of manufacturing, designing or marketing. “Knowing which colour will truly reflect human condition and be used to express it in the future is essential as it assists decision-makers in making the right selection of goods and services to meet market needs,” says Baitie.

As an integral part of  the ten member international team that laid out the template for future colour trends for  UK based Global Colour research Baitie was among a team that comprised specialists from  fashion, architecture, automotive, ceramics, paint, interior design and textile technology.

This team’s brainstorming has identified four key palettes that will dominate trends in the coming seasons.  Their findings have been documented in the  latest issue of Mix, Global Colour Research’s colour trends book. Called Contour, Punch, Opal and Roma, these trends comprise a core shade which also branches out into different tonal expressions.

 “While the first trend, ‘contour’ exemplified the virtues of Gray,  the second more powerful vein that will take consumers into Autumn is called ‘Punch’. “Red is the predominant hue featuring heavily in Punch, and it will make its presence felt  in accessories, textiles and small furniture starting autumn,” states Baitie.

In a bid to update interior designers across the region on the new prevalent trends, Hempel paints, carried out a series of road shows across the GCC. People are not acquainted with the many facets of Red. Although it conjures up images of a Valentine’s heart and may be considered a ‘girly shade’, it is essentially a masculine shade,” says Baitie.

“Heroism is another abstract quality attached to it. However, the shade means different things in different cultures. In Russia, red stands for beauty, whereas in some Far Eastern countries it is used to inscribe the names of dead people on one hand but is used as a colour of celebration on the other”

“Red has the longest wavelength of all the colors in the electromagnetic spectrum, so while it is not the most visible color it does appear to be nearer than it actually is. This is why it’s commonly used on stop signs and warning signs the world over. It is an alert color but doesn’t necessarily mean danger,”

Essentially, Punch is an answer to the world crisis. It is a theme that stimulates people to think. “It is a shade that opens up appetite in restaurants, that symbolizes the joy of living  and really is a way for people to express their survival spirit. These are the emotions that will surface, as the world prepares for autumn,” says Baitie.