Color and Trend Maven Patti Carpenter Dazzles at Market

Have you ever heard of Pantone’s “Color of the Year”? Are you eager to stay ahead of global design trends? Do you consider yourself a “trend ambassador”? If so, then you’re going to love this feature.

During the Summer Las Vegas Market, the largest expo of its kind on the west coast, the House Tipster media team had the opportunity to discuss colors, trends, and what’s coming up next from none other than Patti Carpenter. In an exclusive interview between Patti and House Tipster host, Christopher Grubb, the duo spoke about #whatsnext for the upcoming year.

Buckle your seatbelt and follow us on a wild, colorful ride.

Patti Carpenter: Defined

Patti is an absolute joy.

As a Global Trend Ambassador and the owner of Carpenter + Company, Patti focuses her attention on International Product Development and Design from her New York City headquarters.

She’s worked in over 56 countries (and counting), and has an unparalleled passion for all things “color.”

In addition to working with clients like Pantone, Patti spends her days working with artists across the world “to develop handmade products and then link them to markets in the United States.”

The Woman Behind the Colors

“You’re looking at the woman who picks out the colors we’re seeing here at Market,” Christopher noted to the rest of the House Tipster media team. He wondered what the process of seasonal color selection is like for Patti.

She explained that she works with clients two years out. “By the time you see [the colors,] we’re working on colors for two years in the future.”

The process of choosing the next “it” color entails worldwide travel and gathering info on other design trends, such as print, patterns, and surfaces.

Complex Colors for Complex Times

Right now, jewel tones are popular. But what’s to come?

According to Patti, the theme for 2020 and beyond is “complex colors for complex times.” She explained, “we see things affecting the colors we see on a macro level.”

For example, we’ll be seeing warmer colors like oranges, yellows, and reds because there’s a current concern about climate change. Along the same lines, a focus on the world’s waters in drought-stricken areas like Cape Town is causing more blues and blue-greens to enter the market in the place of traditional aqua. It’s these small nuances to traditional colors that are poised to make a splash in the coming years.

Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for mint green. Patti notes that this hue is a whisper right now, but it’s “going to be a big one!”

A Horizontal Approach

Although she spends a large portion of her time analyzing what colors are on-trend and which ones aren’t, Patti strives to take a horizontal approach to understand and craft future color progression.

“We need to understand that fads go up and down; they’re verticle. Whereas, trends are long-lasting and horizontal,” she explained to Christopher.

Naturally, she’s focused on trends, not fads.

A Final Note: Don’t Fear Color

Even Patti understands that color is scary. It’s hard to make a leap and paint an entire room orange, aqua or mint green. But color makes people happy, and a person’s color choices should reflect their personal preferences.

She suggests making color choices entirely personal. “You have to live and work in that space, so you want it to resonate.” Choosing a neutral backdrop and popping color accent pieces around your home is a great way to start incorporating color.

Patti, thank you for making the world more colorful. We appreciate your insight and can’t wait to see all these new and exciting colors popping up at Market in the coming years!

Tipster TV has released the full video coverage from our special interview, be sure to check it out below.

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