Another year has passed and with it another Pantone Color of the Year has been named. For 2025, it’s Mocha Mousse 17-1230, a bronze, muted brown that goes well with current fashion and face care trends.
Tribe has a short history of criticism of the chosen colors over the years, and unfortunately this year I’ve been assigned the task of adding another chapter to the book.
The first time I discussed the color with coworkers there was an air of disappointment. The brown just felt a bit drab and muddy. Mocha Mousse lacks a certain boldness I would expect from a color that’s supposed to command a year.
From an internal communications perspective, it’s also hard to endorse because it’s so understated. It fails to capture an earthy tone that may represent nature and instead elicits retro futurism, dystopia, and normality. These themes usually don’t represent values that we see organizations adopting.
A possible factor that went into this color’s selection is the backlash Pantone faced from 2024’s color. Peach Fuzz was eerily similar to Crayola’s, controversial and now defunct, Flesh color (now called Peach). Critics argued the color was too close to white skin and felt like the selection was a reversal of the progress we’ve collectively made towards recognizing diversity in our workplaces and promoting more inclusivity of all colors of skin.
Perhaps Pantone wanted to right those wrongs silently, as, in their color announcement, they made no mention of the color as it relates to diversity or progress towards a more inclusive culture.
Pantone states the Color of the Year should, “Express a global mood and an attitude, reflecting collective desire in the form of a single, distinct hue.” My co-workers and I agree, if Pantone employees are fortune tellers, it’s going to be a slow, uninteresting year.
So, to remedy our qualms with the existing Color of the Year, the Tribe creative team have crowned our own Internal Communications Colors of the Year whichreflect our ambitions and attitudes for internal comms for 2025.
Vibrant Red is fearless. Red symbolizes love, passion, and courage which are important emotions and attributes we hope to exhibit in the new year.
Turf Green is bold and calming. For us, 2025 is about life and growth. Our green represents a grounded approach to our year, which remembers nature and serenity.
Limeade is outgoing and energetic. We’re taking a much-needed break from neutral tones and bringing back bold colors this year.
Pale Lavender is peace, serenity, and calm. Purple combines blue and red and represents the need to come together and heal those political divisions after the recent election.
