AkzoNobel recently announced it has released the 10th edition of its annual color and trend guide. The guide reportedly examines color and design trends for coatings in the consumer electronics, automotive, and lifestyle markets. For the first time, the design team has created a Color of the Year—Smooth Copper—which was selected in cooperation with the Aesthetics Center run by AkzoNobel’s Decorative Paints business.

“Our global design team searches the world for the tones that make people talk,” said Stephie Sijssens, Performance Coatings color design manager. “We translate these into four key trends, eight palettes and 72 color effects and textures. We want to inspire our industrial customers to develop together the colors, effects and textures that tell the story of the future.”

The key trend for 2015 is “Extraordinary.” Sijssens said, “We look for beauty in what we have; uniqueness in what’s already there and find the extra in the ordinary. Color and material trends are moving into a sophisticated direction—elegant and playful at the same time, with attention for details. Designers are looking for different textures and tactile aspects to create subtle contrasts, or they find inspiration in the vivid accents of fashion and sport accessories.”

Part of the 2015 trend is bright, almost neon, accents with a matte finish. Metallic effects are also back, while the more classic silver range is now complemented by different shades of browns and golds—including Smooth Copper.

For more information, visit www.akzonobel.com.