One of my favorite color tools that I use with clients is a Color Roadmap. A Color Roadmap shows the evolution of color for a brand across seasons (or time). This multi-tasking powerhouse helps plan, validate, and communicate color strategy over multiple years. It is tool that is easily and instantly understandable to anyone that needs to be aware of how a brand is using color now, in the future, and in the past.
Here is a an example of a Color Roadmap:
As you can see, a Color Roadmap clearly and quickly shows when colors will be introduced and how long they will remain in the palette. These are two key advantages.
But there are more.
Other benefits of a Color Roadmap:
1. Confirms that each season’s color palette has a unique energy from previous seasons, even though it is comprised of new and carryover colors.
2. Validates that new colors are meaningfully different than previous seasons.
3. Outlines when colors will change. This makes sure that there is never a period of too much color change which can dilute a brand’s color POV and cause excessive, unnecessary operations stress, cost, and team energy.
4. Ensures that new color introductions merchandise with carryover colors, allowing for evolution while maintaining a cohesive overall vision.
5. Forms mini seasonal palettes of new color launches. This gives a brand the opportunity to tell timely, engaging stories each season with fresh color - some of which may be seasonal hues, and some of which may last longer. However, when they launch together, they are all new and create an appealing, trend-relevant vibe.
6. Clearly shows which colors should be used for products that won’t get color updates every season by outlining the long-term colors that merchandise with the entire palette, even as it evolves.
7. On the flip side, quickly shows the seasonal, trend-forward colors that should be used for high sales, popular, and/or pinnacle products.
8. Gives retailers a confident place to land. When a brand shares with its partners how long certain colors will be in the line, retailers can tailor their buy appropriately. They know which colors they can buy deep in without the fear of having to discount or the risk of displaying a disjointed, dated line. Alternatively, retailers know which colors will add that seasonal excitement and draw attention on the store floor.
9. Eases operations and MOQ burdens. The Color Roadmap shows which colors a brand can invest materials and product purchases in, saving money, time, and hassle.
10. Streamlines marketing and design efforts by showing which colors will not need updated assets or support each season.
That is why I love the Color Roadmap and find it incredibly valuable.
How can it benefit your color process?
