If it feels like the world is on fire, WGSN and Coloro have identified a color that captures exactly that mood.
On Thursday, the global consumer trend forecasting firm and its color system sister company revealed “Radiant Earth” (also known as Coloro 017-42-31) as the color of the year for 2028.
Described as reliable, assertive and neutral, the clay-like shade of burnt red-orange instills warmth across a variety of applications.
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Comparing Radiant Earth to an afterglow, the color is positioned as a source of inspiration for healing, with “sauna-like restoration within an unpredictable consumer landscape.” Stephanie Barnscher, WGSN senior color forecaster, said it “offers a steady, lingering glow rather than a high-energy pop.”
The color represents a period defined by resilience and consumers’ desire to create environments that prioritize thriving over survival, the companies stated.
“Against a backdrop of prolonged global disruption, the 2028 Color of the Year emerges as a pivotal hue, encouraging a decisive shift away from fleeting emotions toward enduring stability. In doing so, it offers reassurance and paves a resolute path forward,” WGSN and Coloro stated.
Radiant Earth also reflects a strong demand for colors with grounding and permanent qualities. Barnscher noted that the color “promotes a sense of real, lasting stability.”
Thorsten Traugott, Coloro VP of global sales, emphasized that Radiant Earth “translates confidently across textiles and contrasting material finishes, reinforcing its versatility across product categories.”
Barnscher added that the color “is equally effective at providing soft, matte, high-gloss, and iridescent finishes for everyday items, as well as lending organic warmth to high-tech or machined materials.”
Radiant Earth shows a shift in mindset from WGSN and Color’s 2027 color of the year, Luminous Blue. Comparable to lapis lazuli, the cobalt relates to interconnectedness and the blending of natural-made colors and artificial intelligence.
