KitchenAid delivers a nod to Pantone

KitchenAid has released a pink and blue stand mixer in a nod to the Pantone Color of the Year selections for 2016.

"Color has been a huge part of the KitchenAid brand's success story ever since we introduced Antique Copper, Island Green, Petal Pink, Satin Chrome and Sunny Yellow appliances in 1955," said Beth Robinson, senior manager of brand experience for KitchenAid. "As a brand committed to combining high performance with eye-catching design, we're constantly refreshing both our engineering and our color palette to stay ahead of the curve."

The mixers will be available in Guava Glaze, a warm pink tone based on PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz, as of July of next year. Currently available are stand mixers in Cornflower Blue, a blue shade that parallels PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity.

According to the Pantone Color Institute, Rose Quartz and Serenity reflect "a harmonious pairing of inviting shades that embody a mindset of tranquility and inner peace."

Fei Wang, lead color designer on the KitchenAid Global Consumer Design team, added that Pantone color selections have figured largely into brand development in the past.

"Our color introductions are based on a great deal of brand research into global cultural, societal and consumer trends, incorporating everything from fashion, home decor and consumer electronics to what and how consumers are cooking," she said. "As a designer responsible for translating this data into creative choices, I consider Pantone an incredibly important resource for predicting which colors will resonate with consumers."

More from Pantone on its Color of the Year announcement:

"As consumers seek mindfulness and well-being as an antidote to the stress of modern day lives, welcoming colors that psychologically fulfill the yearning for reassurance and security are becoming more prominent. Weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, Serenity comforts with a calming effect, bringing feelings of respite and relaxation even in turbulent times. Rose Quartz is a persuasive yet gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure."