You may have noticed the return of bright colours over the past few months. Perhaps most prominent among them is pink. Not the dusty rose hues of the early 80s, or the fluorescents from a few years later, but a bold, fuchsia-like tone. So it is not terribly surprising that Pantone has named it their 2011 colour of the year.

PPG’s 2012 / 2013 colour trend forecast calls for an awakening of the senses, a new positiveness, a search for increased intensity, and a sense of luxuriousness.

If you’re planning ahead for 2012 and want to know what is happening in terms of colours, the Color Marketing Group (CMG) suggests Boyz-N-Berry, a “deep rich purple with slight red undertones. It is mature and elegant yet has a youthful edginess. It reflects our changing mindset on so many issues — off centre and unconventional, spiritual, meditative yet impulsive. It is serene and in control.” It is also able to blur the line, being both masculine and feminine and appealing to everyone.