BASF colour trend forecast for Asia Pacific

BASF announced its global (see PPCJ August 2012 p 15) and Asia Pacific colour trends forecast for the coming two to three years. The theme of the colour trend forecast, ‘Wide Awake’, indicates that people are fully alert to the challenges of the future. Another key concept of ‘Wide Awake’ expresses the energy and passion of people to move forward by accepting reality and changing their way of thinking.
Natural disasters and a market slowdown, due to global economic uncertainties, have given people in Asia Pacific an opportunity to pause and think about what is truly important to them. There will be an emergence of refined, rich colours with a wide range of red, gold-based colours, as well as colours of nature, such as brown and olive.
Colours used in the automotive industry also strongly reflect the socio-economic sentiments in the region. While neutral colours such as black, silver, grey, white remain the order of the day, hues with green-colour influence are starting to emerge. Brown will continue to be popular too. In fast-developing Asian countries, the preference for more nature-related colours such as browns and greens, suggest that people are gradually leaning towards a more leisure-oriented urban lifestyle, as opposed to focusing entirely on luxury. This is also reflected in the growing popularity of SUVs (sports utility vehicles) in China.
"We are going to see more typically Asian colours used in vehicles in the region,” said Chiharu Matsuhara, Chief Color Designer, Color Design Center Asia Pacific, BASF Coatings Japan Ltd. "The emerging sentiment is to value our origins and show our own style instead of being led by other foreign cultures and preferences,” Matsuhara explained.
For motorcycles, colour preferences vary more, according to local cultures and use. Among motorcycles for family use, colours like pearl white, black and silver remain popular. For personal use a kaleidoscope of bright colours to reflect individual style will feature.