Avient Corporation has launched ColorForward 2027, the latest edition of its annual color trend forecasting tool developed for the plastics industry. The program is intended to support designers, brand owners and marketers in making color and aesthetic choices for new consumer products based on identified societal trends and their anticipated impact on consumer preferences.
ColorForward, now in its 21st edition, again focuses on how emerging social and cultural dynamics may influence the selection of colors and visual effects in polymer applications over the coming years. Drawing on a global network of color, material and finish (CMF) specialists and industry experts, Avient translates these dynamics into concrete color and effect concepts specifically tailored for thermoplastic polymers. The result for the 2027 edition is a curated palette of 20 aesthetic concepts designed to serve as a reference and inspiration source for plastics-related product development.
Shanghai workshop shapes 2027 color narratives
The ideation workshop for ColorForward 2027 took place in Shanghai. According to Avient, the city was selected as a location where established traditions coexist with contemporary technologies and design approaches, providing a setting that combines cultural depth with rapid innovation.
Commenting on the choice of venue and its impact on the development of the latest edition, Norzihan Aziz, Head of ColorWorks Asia at Avient Singapore, said: "The ideation workshop took place in Shanghai, a hub for innovation, where tradition meets cutting-edge technology and ideas transform into reality. The city's vibrant energy, dynamic design culture, and forward-thinking spirit made it an excellent backdrop for shaping this annual edition of ColorForward stories that inspire the future of color. Surrounded by bold architecture, diverse influences, and a pulse of modernity, our international team found the inspiration to push boundaries and shape trend stories for 2027 that resonate globally."
Four societal trend stories for 2027
ColorForward 2027 is based on four key societal trend stories that, in Avient's view, are likely to influence consumer behavior and, in turn, color preferences for plastic products. The overarching narrative for the 2027 edition anticipates that, after experimenting with various approaches to address global challenges and exploring unconventional solution paths in 2026, individuals will increasingly seek a deeper connection to their inner selves. This shift is linked to a growing focus on personal happiness, stability and emotional balance.
The four trend stories are presented as different routes in a broader journey of rediscovery aimed at achieving inner well-being:
- Al-Kusuuf explores the potential influence of the total solar eclipse forecast for August 2027, described as the second-longest eclipse of the 21st century and visible mainly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This trend considers how such an event might inspire new forms of travel, a stronger sense of connection with the universe and related aesthetic choices in color design.
- Our Promise 2U focuses on the strengthening emotional bond between pet owners and their animals. This story highlights how this relationship is driving demand for more premium products and services in the pet care sector and encouraging innovation in that market, including through colors and aesthetics that reflect joy, companionship and attachment to pets.
- 你要去几楼 - Which Floor? documents the changing perception of luxury and the gradual disappearance of the stigma associated with choosing more affordable alternatives. This includes the growing acceptance of products such as dupes and secondhand goods, and considers how these shifts in consumer attitudes may translate into new approaches to color, material and finish for products positioned across different price segments.
- The Box examines the search for balance in a world characterized by high levels of digitalization and continuous connectivity. This trend looks at how consumers may deliberately reduce their exposure to digital environments and return to analog hobbies and creative activities, and how these behaviors could be expressed through more tactile, crafted or understated color and aesthetic choices.
Color palette emphasizes calm, connection and contrast
In line with the central theme of reconnecting with the inner self, the ColorForward 2027 palette incorporates several soft and calming aesthetics. According to Avient, this includes neutral shades and subtle effects intended to convey a sense of inner peace, grounding and emotional balance. These harmonious tones are positioned as visual expressions of a desire for stability amid uncertainty.
The palette is complemented by richer, more mystical hues that reference a growing fascination with the universe and phenomena such as the 2027 eclipse. These deeper colors are contrasted with vivid, energetic accents inspired by the positive emotional impact of pets on daily life. The combination of soothing neutrals, atmospheric darks and bright highlights is intended to offer a spectrum of options that can be adapted to diverse product categories within the plastics sector.
Availability of ColorForward 2027 for industry users
Avient makes ColorForward 2027 available through seminars and presentations at its six ColorWorks Design & Technology Centers worldwide. The company also offers sessions at selected conferences and at customer locations. These events are designed to present the identified societal trends alongside the corresponding color and effect concepts, enabling participants to evaluate how the palette might be integrated into new plastic products and brand strategies.
Further information on the ColorForward 2027 trends and color palettes is available directly from Avient. The tool is aimed primarily at professionals involved in design, product development and marketing for polymer-based consumer goods, who seek structured input on future-oriented color directions.
Avient’s ColorWorks unveils ColorForward 2027, an annual color and aesthetic forecasting tool for the plastics industry that predicts a palette reflecting a desire for inner peace and emotional balance
