A behind-the-scenes look at how California Paints researches, evaluates and selects its 2026 Color of the Year, from data inputs to long-term relevance.

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As industrial coatings manufacturers navigate uneven global demand, evolving powder and coil technologies and rising sustainability expectations, strategy is shifting. In this episode of Coat It!, Courtney Bassett speaks with Luis Fernández of PPG about how market pressures, innovation priorities and formulation AI are reshaping decision-making heading into 2026.

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Montaha Hidefi breaks down how pigment suppliers and formulators can use CMG’s 2027+ framework to spot portfolio gaps, set R&D priorities and plan ahead.

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Montaha Hidefi, color archaeologist and president of Color Marketing Group, explains how CMG gathers signals, debates direction and selects key colors two years ahead.

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PPG reveals its 2026 Color of the Year and explains how Secret Safari and the Parallels theme translate across products, finishes and industrial applications.

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Vanessa Peterson, global color styling lead for consumer products at PPG, explains how global research, cultural signals and technical insight shape color forecasting and guide formulation decisions across industries.

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Lisbeth Parada, color and design lead at Minwax, explains why Special Walnut was selected as the 2026 Color of the Year and how wood finishes are shaping today’s interior design trends.

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