Sherwin-Williams introduced its 2024 Color of the Year Upward SW 6239, a breezy and blissful shade of blue that evokes the ever-present sense of peace found when slowing down, taking a breath and allowing the mind to clear.
“Upward SW 6239 represents the gentle forward momentum in all of our lives,” said Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin Williams. “It brings to life that carefree, sunny day energy that elicits a notion of contentment and peace. With this color, we invite our consumers to take a pause and infuse a new sense of ease and possibility into their spaces – one that doesn’t overwhelm, but rather establishes meditation and tranquility.”
To bring this light and buoyant hue to the lives (and tastebuds) of consumers, Sherwin-Williams has partnered with James Beard Award-winning French pastry chef Dominique Ansel to create his first-ever vegan cronut inspired by Upward SW 6239, available for a limited time at his namesake bakery in New York City's Soho neighborhood. The all-vegan version of Ansel’s iconic “half croissant, half doughnut” creation is filled with coconut riz au lait (rice pudding) infused with naturally flavored Butterfly Pea Flower Tea; this vibrantly hued Southeast Asian flower, when gently steeped as a tea, mirrors the shade and spirit of Upward SW 6239. With a natural touch of this blue botanical and a hand-glazed fondant topping, the custom pastry invites a blissful sense of well-being into the day. The limited-edition confection was available at the Dominique Ansel Bakery in New York City from Sept. 21-24 from 8 a.m. until sold out daily.
Upward is part of Palette No. 1 in Sherwin-Williams Colormix Forecast 2024, Anthology: Volume One. Wadden recommends pairing the hue with blues and greens, deeps and darks and delicate tints like Snowbound SW 7004, Drift of Mist SW 9166, Gale Force SW 7605, Tricorn Black SW 6528, Honeydew SW 6428, Palm Leaf SW 7735 and Antiquarian Brown SW 0045. It can be placed in meditative spaces and used to promote open-mindedness and peace in a variety of commercial settings. “The hue serves as a reminder to pause and ponder limitless possibilities that can be unlocked in our work, dining, educational spaces and beyond.”
Led by Director of Color Marketing Sue Wadden, the Sherwin-Williams global color and design team researches and identifies key trends that influence the way we interact with color. From those findings, the team turns emerging trends into the annual Colormix Forecast, which features trending palettes for the year to come. For this year’s Colormix Forecast 2024, Anthology: Volume One, the brand has unveiled a new biennial approach to the trend report; this recurring color reference will alternate each year with the usual style and trend storytelling that the brand is known for. The very first Anthology collection explores the directional shifts of four core chromatic families – diving into the meaning behind the chosen colors, their role in awakening modern aesthetics, and what their future holds. The team then chooses the Color of the Year from the Colormix Forecast–the 2024 selection, Upward SW 6239, is the 14th official Color of the Year.
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