We use cookies to give you the best personal experience on our website. If you continue to use our site without changing your cookie settings, you agree we may place these cookies on your device. You can change your cookie settings at any time but if you do , you may lose some functionality on our website . More information can be found in our privacy policy.
Please provide more information.
Stylus no longer supports Internet Explorer 7, 8 or 9. Please upgrade to IE 11, Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Edge. This will ensure you have the best possible experience on the site.
stylus
trends		 consumer
lifestyle		 consumer
product		 consumer
engagement		 topics events
calendar		 blog
view all
reports
 		about
stylus		 login
stylus trends
Consumer Attitudes
Technology
Food & Beverage
Travel & Hospitality
Fashion
Beauty
Product Design
Colour & Materials
Retail
Media & Marketing
topics
view all reports
events calendar
blog
about stylus
T&C
careers
contact us
login
Colour Spectrum S/S 2016

Shifting Surfaces

Shifting Surfaces harnesses technical advances in design and material development. The subtle qualities of reflective and refractive materials create changeable and illusionary surface finishes for product. These include shimmering lustres, iridescence and matt metallic sheens.

The palette features ultra-luxurious and luminescent shades of Green Schist, Green Gold and Silver. The addition of rich tones Rosewood, Deep Water, Terracotta Lustre, Aubergine Lustre and Pink Shimmer add warmth to the range. Pale matt tints of Chalk, Vapour Grey and Mint Mist lift and temper.

Share:
Published:
7 May 2014
DOWNLOAD PDF
RELATED REPORTS
Structural Colour: Bird Feathers Inspire Artificial Pigment
Structural Colour: Bird Feathers Inspire Artificial Pigment Bird Feathers Inspire New Pigment Researchers at Nagoya University in Japan have found a way to replicate the iridescent colour often found on birds' and butterflies' wings. The bright blue wings of the Steller's jay (a bird native to North America) were a particular source of inspiration for the scientists, who were able to reproduce the colour in a lab and synthesise a new kind of artificial pigment.
Colour & Materials
Colour
12 Jun 2017
Sci-Bio: Colour
Sci-Bio: Colour Sci-Bio: Colour As man and machine become more intrinsically linked, technology fuses with biology to inspire designers and artists alike. An empowered palette of activist brights emerges in response to the changing aspects of our world. Manmade industrial aesthetics and biological nature merge into intriguing and unexpected combinations.

Natural and synthetic colours exist in harmony. Vivid processed hues of Blue Face, Chemical Green and Extra Magenta are grounded by nature-inspired shades of Deep Seagreen, Khaki Green and Plasma. Glowing pastels Sweet Lime and Orange Crush illuminate, while clinical tones of glossy Black Onyx, Haze and Titanium provide a clean and futuristic feel.
Colour & Materials
Colour Spectrum A/W 2018-19
10 Nov 2016
Dynamic Opacity
Dynamic Opacity Dynamic Opacity Dynamic Opacity explores the potential of new phase-changing materials that are dynamic in their translucency. Advances include clever technical constructions that perform magical or highly functional transformations, and discreet user interfaces, which offer a sinuous relationship with intelligent devices. The two central themes are Playful Visibility and Radical Interfaces.
Colour & Materials
Materials Focus 2018
14 Jun 2016
Louis Vuitton’s High-Shine Showspace
Louis Vuitton’s High-Shine Showspace Louis Vuitton: High-Shine Showspace Louis Vuitton's A/W 16/17 womenswear showspace at Paris Fashion Week offered a futuristic hall of shattered mirrors, reflecting and refracting models' garments as they walked the runway.
Colour & Materials
Architecture & Spaces
29 Mar 2016
Thermochromic Leather & Flowers
Thermochromic Leather & Flowers Thermochromic Leather & Flowers Innovative applications of thermochromic dyes – which change colour with heat – are pushing the technique into new areas, as seen in two recent explorations involving leather and flowers.
Colour & Materials
Applications
12 Feb 2016
VIEW ALL Reports
Sensory Brand Spaces Pt. 1: Illusion, Disruption & Reaction
Sensory Brand Spaces Pt. 1: Illusion, Disruption & Reaction Hyper-Sensory Brand Spaces Pt. 1 Tapping into sensory aspects of physical retail seduction that appeal as much to Gen Z as their predecessors, shrewd brands are elevating the store experience via amplified scent, sight, sound and tactility. From wild illusion to transformative stimulation, we track the inspiring interiors and materials maximising physical design. 
Retail
Store Concepts
15 Jan 2016
Christmas 2015 Confirmation: Illusion
Christmas 2015 Confirmation: Illusion Christmas Confirmation: Illusion Our Christmas 2015 Design Direction Illusion is defined by reflective light play for a dramatic and atmospheric aesthetic.
Product Design
Seasonal
15 Dec 2015
New Metallics: Visual Update
New Metallics: Visual Update New Metallics: Visual Update We re-examine our New Metallics report to capture the latest applications and finishes currently evolving the future aesthetics of metallics. Here, we collate the most relevant and inspiring themes.
Colour & Materials
Applications
20 Oct 2015
Holographic Chocolate
Holographic Chocolate Holographic Chocolate Switzerland-based company Morphotonix has developed a way to imprint holographic designs onto chocolate without using additives.
Colour & Materials
Food & Beverage
14 Sep 2015
Elisa Strozyk: Woven Glass Lights
Elisa Strozyk: Woven Glass Lights Elisa Strozyk: Woven Glass Lights German designer Elisa Strozyk pushes the limits of glass with her series of pendant lamps made from woven coloured glass.
Colour & Materials
Materials
30 Jul 2015
Avant-Glass: Material Innovation
Avant-Glass: Material Innovation Avant-Glass: Material Innovation A new wave of glass products is redefining this traditionally cold material. Innovative design and manufacturing methods transform glass and adapt its transparency for mesmerising visual effects. From clever colour application to decorative distortions, we examine the latest explorations.
Colour & Materials
Materials
28 Jul 2015
Outline A/W 16-17: Visual Update
Outline A/W 16-17: Visual Update Outline A/W 16-17: Visual Update An innovative approach to colour and material defines the transformative outlook of our Autumn/Winter 2016-17 Design Direction, Outline. This visual report reinforces the direction’s dynamic and captivating aesthetic, bringing together inspirational imagery from across the product categories.
Product Design
Key Directions
24 Jul 2015
Manipulating Light
Manipulating Light Manipulating Light Manipulating light continues to be a strong interest for creatives. Already heavily influencing colour for several seasons, we are seeing an increasing appreciation for materials that are able to distort ambient or artificial lighting through diffusion, reflection and translucency. This rationale explores how designers are adapting material properties to develop exciting reactive and visually arresting surfaces or products. 
Colour & Materials
Materials Focus 2017
09 Jun 2015
Stellar Christmas 2016
Stellar Christmas 2016 Stellar Christmas 2016 The wider universe provides inspiration for Stellar – shimmering surfaces and celestial shapes combine in a direction that celebrates the intrigue of the unknown.
Product Design
Key Directions
22 May 2015
Skyscraper Design Repels Shadow
Skyscraper Design Repels Shadow Skyscraper Design Repels Shadow London-based architecture firm NBBJ has designed a pair of skyscrapers that reflect light between them to avoid creating a shadow in the space below.
Product Design
Architecture & Spaces
27 Mar 2015
Outline A/W 16-17
Outline A/W 16-17 Outline A/W 16-17 Playing with perspective, Outline is defined by reflective surfaces and discreetly engineered designs. Evolving from our S/S 16 Design Direction, Trace, transformative qualities are produced through harnessing and reflecting light across minimal frames and graphic forms.

Motivated by innovation, the direction is key across the industrial sectors as materials are given fresh and unexpected applications that focus on high-performance results. The dynamic aesthetic results in stimulating product stories that appeal to consumers in constant motion.
Product Design
Design Directions A/W 16-17
27 Mar 2015
Première Vision S/S 16: Material & Finish
Première Vision S/S 16: Material & Finish Première Vision: Material & Finish Overall, fabrics are simplified and less textured this season, as designs focus on translucent sheer details and subtle, shimmering finishes. Here, we highlight key directions for the new season.
Colour & Materials
Première Vision S/S 2016
20 Feb 2015
Update: Interrupted Surfaces
Update: Interrupted Surfaces Update: Interrupted Surfaces Highly reflective material applications are currently fascinating creatives. We re-examine our Materials Focus 2014-15 rationale Interrupted Surfaces to identify how designers are harnessing refractive finishes to challenge our interpretation of spaces and products, with compelling and responsive results.
Colour & Materials
Applications
10 Feb 2015
Radiant Hues
Radiant Hues Radiant Hues Radiant Hues builds on the rationale of Magical, whose understated palette comes alive through light. We look to industry to see the latest translations of this trend, and in doing so, see colour move into an inspiringly fluid state.
Colour & Materials
Colour
02 Dec 2014
Exploring Ephemerality
Exploring Ephemerality Exploring Ephemerality Rich in experience and physically interactive, designers are exploring ephemeral design as an experimental catalyst to engage consumers. We look at this anti-static and analogue trend that deviates from the digital noise, creating new product, art and experiences.
Product Design
Art & Design
28 Nov 2014
Mac x Bao Bao Wan
Mac x Bao Bao Wan Mac x Bao Bao Wan US brand Mac Cosmetics is collaborating with Beijing-based jewellery designer Bao Bao Wan to create a jewel-tone-inspired cosmetics collection.
Colour & Materials
Beauty
12 Nov 2014
Magical
Magical Magical Drawing on past rationales, Shifting Surfaces and Play of Light, our fascination with the interplay of light prevails. Artists and makers continue to explore light as a medium. Material interaction with light inspires creatives to use its inherent reflective and changeable qualities for new radiant finishes and glimmering colour treatments.

The Magical palette references the ethereal qualities of light and its diffused appearance through liquid or glass. Cool, watery hues of Blue Topaz and Pale Aquamarine are complemented by warm, ultra-pale tones Sunlight and Sea Foam. Lilacs dominate the rest of the palette, with metallic Foil introducing a frosted and pearl-like finish.
Colour & Materials
Colour Spectrum A/W 16-17
04 Nov 2014
Dutch Design Week 2014: Colour & Materials
Dutch Design Week 2014: Colour & Materials DDW: Colour & Materials We bring together the highlights of Dutch Design Week's playful approach to colour and material application, including reactionary colour drawn from nature and unusual applications through layering.
Product Design
Dutch Design Week 2014
30 Oct 2014
Play of Light: Anrealage S/S 15
Play of Light: Anrealage S/S 15 Play of Light: Anrealage S/S 15 Japanese fashion house Anrealage showcased an impressive range of photosensitive fabrics and trompe l'oeil effects at Paris Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2015.
Fashion
Catwalks
09 Oct 2014
Digital Mimic: Holographic Pixels
Digital Mimic: Holographic Pixels Digital Mimic: Holographic Pixels Vancouver-based artist Ed Spence makes incredible artworks by photographing crumpled pieces of reflective paper that he prints out and carefully cuts up into small pixel-like squares. These tiny squares are then collaged in an arrangement based on colour to achieve shimmering gradients. 
Colour & Materials
Colour
06 Oct 2014
Purple Sand Dunes: Prada S/S 15
Purple Sand Dunes: Prada S/S 15 Purple Sand Dunes: Prada S/S 15 For its Womenswear Spring/Summer 2015 runway show Italian fashion house Prada created a stunning and surreal installation of undulating hills of purple sand.
Colour & Materials
Colour
02 Oct 2014
London Design Festival 2014: Colour
London Design Festival 2014: Colour LDF 2014: Colour Experimentation dictates many colour stories at this year’s London Design Festival. Alongside the stalwart colours, special treatment finishes and unique materials are the exciting influences.
Product Design
London Design Festival 2014
30 Sep 2014
Première Vision A/W 2015-16: Material & Finish
Première Vision A/W 2015-16: Material & Finish Material & Finish Influencing the direction for Autumn/Winter 2015-16, we see more knitted offerings this season, abundant with amplified stitches, relief textures and roughly brushed mohair. Diffused dye effects also dominate alongside washed and bleached denim finishes.
Colour & Materials
Première Vision A/W 2015-16
26 Sep 2014
Première Vision A/W 2015-16: Colour
Première Vision A/W 2015-16: Colour Colour As fashion designers move towards debuting transeasonal collections, textile manufacturers adapt by offering fresh pastel spring shades and vivid summer brights for Autumn/Winter 2015-16. Warm neutrals and intense tones of red-orange prevail. There is a distinctive lack of cool blues and greens, though Acid Green is a dominant highlight colour. 
Colour & Materials
Première Vision A/W 2015-16
26 Sep 2014
LFW: Richard Nicoll Debuts LED Dress
LFW: Richard Nicoll Debuts LED Dress LFW: Richard Nicoll's LED Dress British designer Richard Nicoll opened his London Fashion Week catwalk show yesterday with a show-stopping dress infused with micro LED lights.
Fashion
Catwalks
17 Sep 2014
Insta-Layers
Insta-Layers Insta-Layers San Francisco-based studio T2D (Tomorrow Today) has developed a web app called Metragramme that layers 32 of its users Instagram pictures to create a single image via pixel comparisons. The final effect results in intriguing details and soft, saturated colour.
Colour & Materials
Colour
03 Sep 2014
Perfect Ordinary S/S 2016
Perfect Ordinary S/S 2016 Perfect Ordinary S/S 2016 A pared-down and refined update to our Autumn/Winter 2015-16 Design Direction Norse, Perfect Ordinary celebrates the perfection of basics and new classics. It’s a hyper-simple new uniform.
Fashion
Overview
26 Aug 2014
Colour S/S 2016
Colour S/S 2016 Colour S/S 2016 Evolving from our Spring/Summer 2016 Colour Spectrum, we examine the key colours for our S/S 16 Product Design Directions – Renew, Extend and Trace.

Drawn from nature, calming neutrals are balanced by clean primary tones in the Renew colour story. Synthetic hues reflect the mixed material applications seen in Extend for an energetic, youthful aesthetic. Liquid metallics and iridescent films inspire the Trace colour palette, with almost fluorescent accents emphasising the importance of light. 
Product Design
Design Directions S/S 2016
21 Aug 2014
Trace S/S 2016
Trace S/S 2016 Trace S/S 2016 An illusionary direction defined by shifting light, Trace is underpinned by a gentle ambience that reflects a quiet sense of wonder. With a calmer, more ethereal atmosphere than our A/W 15-16 direction React, understated engineering hides and softens technology, while temporal design offers transformative qualities.

The focus on lightweight materials emphasises cutting-edge innovation, appealing to industrial sectors and a forward-thinking consumer looking to seamlessly embed technology into their homes and lives.
Product Design
Design Directions S/S 2016
21 Aug 2014
Katie Eary’s Metallic Make-Up at LC:M 2014
Katie Eary’s Metallic Make-Up at LC:M 2014 Katie Eary’s Metallic Make-Up Bold, highly pigmented metallic make-up seen at British fashion designer Katie Eary’s menswear show during London Collections: Men 2014 mirrors our Spring/Summer 2016 colour prediction for shimmery, shifting surfaces. 
Fashion
Beauty
20 Jun 2014
Free Form
Free Form Free Form Evolving our Responsive theme from last season, materials that possess reactive or interactive elements are utilised in products that serve a practical purpose, yet are compelling and playful. Experimental and prototype concepts consider a material's natural properties for imaginative methods of making and packaging.
Colour & Materials
Materials Focus 2016
27 May 2014
New Metallics
New Metallics New Metallics From simulated textures to transformative processes, experimental applications and finishes are evolving the future aesthetic of metallics.
Colour & Materials
Materials
12 Mar 2014
Dimensions
Dimensions Dimensions This is a dynamic era of new possibilities; the revolution in technology and making heralds the arrival of unexpected creations and visions with no limitations or margins. Strange dimensions emerge in art, while surprising processes and finishes result in an emerging possible future of hybrid worlds and products.

Colour palettes consist of cool tones of Deep Sea, Green Slate with milky Pastel Violet, and Purple Mist. The addition of Dark Terracotta, Maple Sugar and Rouge adds warmth. Pale tints of colour inspired by resins and light include Pink Ice, Green Freeze and Cold Light.
Colour & Materials
Colour Spectrum A/W 2015-16
15 Nov 2013
Neutral Haze Furniture by Wonmin Park
Neutral Haze Furniture by Wonmin Park Wonmin Park: Neutral Haze Furniture South Korean designer Wonmin Park has created an exciting new range of his Haze furniture series in grey, white and navy.
Colour & Materials
Interiors
11 Oct 2013
Play of Light
Play of Light Play of Light A fascination with light and illusion is driving artists and designers to focus on our perception of the world. New developments in lighting and mesmerising magical experiences result from harnessing light for optical effect.

This palette reflects these contrasting worlds of darkness and light. Deep-coloured hues of Dark Evergreen and Night Sky are balanced with warm greys Lumina Grey, Lunar Rock and stark White Dust. Lustres are key to this palette, ranging from bright Copper Orange and Rose Lustre to soft Lilac Haze and Pearl Green.
Colour & Materials
Colour
06 Jun 2013
Interrupted Surfaces
Interrupted Surfaces Interrupted Surfaces The appearance of surfaces and spaces are fascinating artists, architects and designers. Materials that possess highly reflective or responsive qualities are producing complex surfaces and applications. Compelling materials and finishes that respond to their environment through mimicry, refractive qualities or smart interaction challenge our interpretation of a space or object.
Colour & Materials
Materials Focus 2014-15
15 Nov 2012
Transformative Layers
Transformative Layers Transformative Layers Layering materials by improving functionality or changing the purpose of a space or object is of growing importance. Similarly, transparent materials that either transform the space around them – for example, magnification acrylics – or allow objects such as furniture to disappear completely are changing the way we view the physical world. Stylus explores the key materials emerging in this sector of interest.
Colour & Materials
Materials Focus 2014
14 Jun 2012
Polished, Cast & Fluid: Materials in Contemporary Art
Polished, Cast & Fluid: Materials in Contemporary Art Polished, Cast & Fluid A fascination with polished, cast and liquid surface finishes has seen a renewed material awareness in the work of contemporary artists. Stylus profiles the techniques used by four of the art world’s rising stars – who are receiving plaudits for their considered approaches to material finishes.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
30 Apr 2012
I'll Be Your Mirror
I'll Be Your Mirror I'll Be Your Mirror An emerging interest in cool reflective material finishes – where mirrors, polished metals and treated glass act as ever-changing surfaces – is resulting in a visual landscape where all may not be as it seems. Stylus investigates the use of these materials to create objects that manipulate their surroundings, emulating pigmented surfaces by harnessing reflected colour.
Colour & Materials
Materials
17 Nov 2011
Constance Guisset: Francis Mirror
Constance Guisset: Francis Mirror Constance Guisset French designer Constance Guisset reinvents the cosmetic mirror by adding washes of pigment beneath the glass surface in Francis – a series of pocket and wall-mounted mirrors for boutique furniture manufacturer Petite Friture.
Colour & Materials
Beauty
13 Jul 2011
Hues and Finishes: Metals
Hues and Finishes: Metals Hues and Finishes: Metals Throughout history, polished gold and silver have been considered the most highly prized of metal finishes. However, conventional notions of luxury and opulence are being challenged by the contemporary design world. Utilitarian metals – including copper, brass, steel and aluminium – increasingly appeal to designers and architects. Stylus explores the emerging trends in metals, investigating new tastes and techniques for creating metallic finishes.
Colour & Materials
Applications
26 May 2011
Simona Pries’s Subtle Colour
Simona Pries’s Subtle Colour Simona Pries German sculptor and installation artist Simona Pries uses different materials to build up colour within her pieces by layering translucent surfaces over coloured fragments and by using paints in soft pastel hues.
Colour & Materials
Arts & Pop Culture
19 May 2011
About Stylus Terms & Conditions Careers Contact Us
Updated
Related
 ©  PANTONE®TPX
 COATED
 RAL
 RGB
 HEX
 NCS