Get To Know the Global Color Experts Shaping Sherwin-Williams’ Next Big Hues

At Sherwin-Williams, understanding where color is headed begins with the Trendsight Team, a collective of global experts studying everything from fashion runways to economic signals. The group shares research, tracks cultural shifts and examines emerging movements to inform the brand’s annual Colormix Forecast.

That process begins in Cleveland, where Sherwin-Williams has been headquartered since its founding in 1866, growing into one of the largest paint and coatings manufacturers in the world. The Trendsight Team’s work is part of that larger legacy, anchoring global design direction in a city with more than 150 years of color history.

For Sherwin-Williams, forecasting color is never the work of a single tastemaker. It’s a year-round global process overseen by Sue Wadden, the company’s director of color marketing, and a team of specialists who analyze design movements, cultural shifts and emerging influences to guide the brand’s next steps in color.

Wadden says that collective expertise is central to the Trendsight approach.

“The Sherwin-Williams Trendsight Team of expert forecasters is made up of the foremost thought leaders and design professionals in color with over 200 years of collective experience combining research analytics and diligent trend tracking to monitor and report on trends,” she says, “defining the future of design and color across the globe.”

The team’s identity became more formalized a few years ago when Sherwin-Williams introduced the Trendsight name to highlight the people behind its research.

“One of my core leadership values is shining a spotlight on the incredible expertise behind our color leadership,” Wadden says. “It’s never just one voice; it’s a chorus of perspectives that bring the story of color to life.”

Each member represents a division of the company’s global color groups, a collective she describes as “visionaries.”

The Trendsight Team was first formed with a focus on architectural color perspectives, but its mission expanded as the company’s forecasting needs grew. Today, the group includes color leaders from industrial finishes, wood coatings, furniture design and architecture.

“Our insights span Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America, giving us a panoramic view of how color moves across cultures and markets,” Wadden says.

This broad view allows the team to see how design influences flow from one industry to another. What gains traction in furniture may later inform architectural palettes, while industrial finishes can signal what will shape mainstream design.

During the fall and winter months, the team begins curating the annual Colormix Forecast.

“Each year, the Trendsight Team comes together to discuss color direction, macro trends and other drivers that play a key role in influencing the color story for the following year,” Wadden says. “We look at a variety of influences ranging from art and culture, fashion, sustainability and innovation to tech and AI.”

Through this research, the team selects 48 directional colors, which are then divided into four palettes that express the themes of the year ahead. The conversations continue throughout the year.

This year’s forecast falls within the Colormix Biennial Anthology system, which Sherwin-Williams introduced in 2023. The biennial format alternates each year between a broad reference anthology and a more traditional trend forecast. The first volume, Anthology: One, grouped emerging hues into four color families. The second volume builds on those families with updated interpretations that include frosted tints, sunbaked hues, restorative darks and foundational neutrals.

To define these palettes, the team tracks influences across fashion, art, architecture, social media, cultural mood, economic shifts and global events. Environmental considerations continue to drive interest in earth-inspired pigments and natural materials.

After the forecast is complete, the team selects a single Color of the Year. The chosen shade is one that feels trend-forward yet usable, a reflection of where color is headed and what homeowners are ready to embrace.

“We look across all the palettes to find the single hue that best captures the emotional and cultural direction of the year ahead,” Wadden says. “We’re seeing a universal desire for interiors that move beyond fleeting trends toward lasting beauty and functionality.”

Color of the Year: Universal Khaki SW 6150

This year’s Color of the Year, Universal Khaki SW 6150, rose from the Trendsight Team’s work choosing a shade that best reflects what people want in their homes: comfort, warmth and effortless style.

“Universal Khaki SW 6150 stood out because it perfectly captures the balance people are craving right now,” Wadden says, “simplicity, comfort and timeless style.”

She describes the color as adaptable and quietly confident, a neutral that feels grounded but elevated. It works across nearly every room, offering a warm backdrop for wood tones, stone surfaces and layered textures.

“It’s enduring, adaptable, and quietly confident,” Wadden says, “the kind of color that never tries too hard, yet makes every room feel complete.”

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