The Ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus once famously wrote “Panta Rhei” or “Everything Flows”, when describing the constantly changing nature of the universe. 

Nothing in life is permanent and one could argue that it is precisely this process of continuous evolution that brings excitement and meaning to our lives, inspiring us to adapt and respond to new challenges. Adversity has a unique way of putting our ingenuity to the test and when we rise to the task, truly great things can happen.

Our latest ICONICA collection is testament to this. Who could have predicted the events of the past five years and how these would impact us all, on both a practical and emotional level? In developing ICONICA, we have produced a collection that holds a mirror up to the world and captures the current zeitgeist, illustrating how the collective mood has changed since the previous edition. By reflecting the colours that define our time, we hope ICONICA will serve as a guide for the colours and finishes that will characterise the next few years, inspiring great designs without being prescriptive.  

Bridging the gap between art and science

Identifying colour trends in order to create a vision for the future is a task full of complexity. We wanted to present a potential scenario for the next few years to create excitement and push the boundaries, while continuing to remain both relevant and grounded in the present. 

The new ICONICA series draws upon Axalta’s in-house colour experts and insights into how colour trends will evolve over time. As part of this process, the experts examined a number of sociological trends, and how these are shaping the world of colour, working in collaboration with the R&D team to develop super durable formulations to bring the vision to life.

The starting point for the process was a statistical analysis of which colours from the previous collection performed most strongly. Insights from a trend forecasting agency then uncovered the new additions to the collection, which were added to the existing ones to form the latest edition of ICONICA. Cross-functional collaboration was instrumental in bringing the project to fruition, delivering a collection that is exceptional on both an aesthetic and practical level.

An uncertain world and the complexity of humans

Volatility has become one of the defining traits of our time and our latest collection is very much a reflection of this. With the addition of 14 new colours, one of the key trends within this collection has been a shift towards reassuring, saturated colours to create what we believe is our strongest, most balanced palette yet.

Comprising 40 colours, ICONICA is divided into four distinctive design themes that we believe will play out in the coming years: Natural Crafts, Comforting Shelter, New Minimalism and Celestial Space. The emergence of such themes speaks volumes about humanity’s need for simplicity, safety, and connection with nature, which have arguably become more pronounced in the context of the pandemic, the climate crisis and simmering geopolitical tensions. They also speak to a certain duality within human nature, since the Celestial Space theme embodies our constant pursuit of innovation, novelty, and exploration, as we look to the solar system for inspiration.

A renewed focus on sustainability

There has been an important shift in the way we view sustainability in recent years. With heightened awareness of environmental issues comes increased accountability; in this new reality, actions carry far more weight than words.

Such a change has forced us to reconsider the way we use materials to achieve a particular feel. In the past, if a designer required a stone finish for a building façade, stone materials would have been specified. The past few years have brought about an increased use of coatings to replicate the finish of a particular material and our new ICONICA collection contains several examples of this.

Such an approach is inherently more sustainable, since the aluminium substrate onto which coatings are applied is fully recyclable, offering the same aesthetics of the target material along with superior durability. Super durable coatings extend the life of materials, ensuring we are making the most of natural resources and eliminating waste. Increased ease of installation offers yet another benefit to this approach.

The world is continuously changing and as ever, it is essential to adapt with it. The new ICONICA collection has undergone an important evolution in response to the massive changes that serve as a constant reminder that nothing ever remains the same. Our partnership with a trend forecasting agency took a global view of the defining themes of our time to produce something that provides an informed perspective on how we anticipate colour trends to play out over the next several years, translating this vision into a collection that hits the right notes from an aesthetic point of view while also delivering in terms of performance and sustainability.

About the ICONICA collection

The ICONICA collection of Alesta® SuperDurable powder coatings for metallic substrates identifies a palette of 40 key colours and finishes which capture the essence of our time. These are supported by research carried out by Axalta’s team of colour experts and its in-depth understanding of the global built environment landscape. Such findings provide architects and designers with clear, actionable insights to help inform designs that can withstand the test of time.

The collection is founded on the three pillars of sustainability, performance and trends, and with a formulation that is solvent- and VOC emissions-free, ICONICA provides a more environmentally friendly approach to surface coating. 

For more information on ICONICA, visit www.axalta.com/iconica