CMF (COLOR-MATERIAL-FINISH) TREND RESEARCH | 2023 - 2024

Led CMF initiatives for Perrigo’s oral care products, conducting cross-industry trend research to shape brand-relevant color directions.

STATEMENT

Perrigo, a global healthcare company with multiple oral care brands, lacked a unified design language in color, material, and finish (CMF). To strengthen brand positioning, I was tasked with researching CMF trends, defining color directions for the portfolio, and presenting a strategy for consistent application across brands.

The project had no dedicated budget, so the team relied on existing resources, industry reports, and creative research methods to build a strong CMF strategy.

RESEARCH PROCESS

  • Researched color trends across fashion, cosmetics, automotive, interiors, and consumer electronics to identify relevant directions for oral care.

  • Analyzed the CMF landscape and developed strategic color palettes for Perrigo’s oral care brands for 2023–2024.

  • Led and mentored industrial design interns in CMF research, and presented the process and outcomes to internal R&D and Marketing teams.

We began by reviewing WGSN’s 2023 color forecast and Pantone’s 2022–2023 trend reports as a foundation for understanding how global forecasting organizations frame and present upcoming color directions.

Open color trend report booklets and magazines featuring fashion palettes, color charts, and images of models wearing fall/winter clothing in various color schemes for Autumn/Winter 2022/2023
A collage of presentation slides about color trends for 2022/23. The slides feature various color forecasts, trend analyses, and visual examples, including images of flowers, digital art, interior design, consumer tech, and colorful patterns.
Swatches of fabric in various colors arranged on a table, with some overlapping paint color swatch sheets.

Observed CMF trends across fashion, cosmetics, automotive, residential interiors, and consumer electronics to identify emerging popular colors and explore how they could be applied to oral care.

A colorful collage of fashion, beauty, lifestyle, tech, homeware, car, and electronics products grouped into categories with accompanying images, colors, and trend examples.

Dived into the latest color trends in the high fashion (Women’s, Men’s, Accessories & Cosmetics) catagories.

Fashion runway collage featuring models dressed in colorful and stylish outfits, including accessories like handbags, jewelry, and hats, with the Chanel logo visible on some accessories.
Collage of Chanel 2022/2023 fashion and beauty campaign images, including models showcasing makeup, skincare, perfumes, and accessories, with color swatches and product layouts.
Fashion mannequins dressed in edgy, modern clothing at a Valentino event, with one wearing a pink blazer and another in a black jacket with a pink hoodie, set against a white background.
Three fashion runway photographs, featuring models showcasing different designer collections at the Louis Vuitton Resort 2023 Collection, Christian Dior Resort 2023 Collection, and an unnamed collection, each with distinct styles and settings.
A collage of Fendi fashion items from 2022 and 2023, showcasing men's and women's clothing, accessories, and footwear, organized into categories with visual examples of each.
Collage of Gucci fashion items including handbags, shoes, hats, and models wearing various clothing and accessories in bright colors and patterns.
Collection of images showing fashion items and models, including a variety of colorful footwear, accessories like jewelry and handbags, and models wearing casual and stylish outfits.
Fashion show catalog displaying men's and women's clothing and accessories by Balenciaga, with color palette at the top.
Collage of diverse women with different hairstyles, makeup looks, and fashion styles, representing popular cosmetic and hair trends.
A color trend report for Estée Lauder showing model portraits, makeup products, and color palettes categorized by shades like cold, Bordeaux, blue, brown, red, green, and tan.
Fashion and beauty products featuring Christian Dior makeup items, models showcasing makeup looks, and runway models in designer clothing with neutral and bold makeup styles, set against a sunset backdrop.
A variety of color swatches arranged in rows, including black, beige, gray, white, red, pink, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple shades.

Explored the trends in residential interior design.

Collage of interior and exterior design images including living rooms, bedrooms, furniture, and decor styles.
A palette of color swatches arranged in rows, including black, white, browns, reds, oranges, yellows, greens, blues, and purples.

Latest color offerings from the major car brands.

A chart showing various BMW car models from 2022 and 2023 in different colors, with images of the cars and interior, including a color palette and specifications.
Arrangement of images of Mercedes-Benz G-Class vehicles in various colors and interior options, including paint swatches and interior photos, labeled 'Mercedes-Benz Current 2022'.
Collection of various 2022 Audi vehicles in different colors, interior and exterior shots, including dashboards, seats, and car profiles.
A presentation slide showing different Toyota car models, color options, and images of cars in various settings with a color palette at the top.
A chart displaying various 2022 and 2023 Ford vehicles arranged in rows with color options at the top. The top row features SUVs in colors like black, dark blue, blue, gray, red, yellow, and gray. The second row shows SUVs in gold, blue, black, red, dark gray, and black. The third row presents pickups and SUVs in gray, blue, black, gray, black, and red. The bottom row shows commercial trucks and vans in white and gray, with different bed and cab configurations.
Color palette with rows of various colored circles, including shades of gray, red, yellow, green, blue, and orange.

Latest CMF from the major consumer electronics brands.

A collage of Apple products including iPhones, iPads, AirPods, Apple Watch, MacBook, and Apple accessories displayed with color options.
A collage of various Google electronic devices and accessories, including smartphones, earbuds, smartwatches, a smart home device, and office supplies.
Collection of Microsoft tech products and accessories, including laptops, mice, keyboards, gaming controllers, headphones, and monitors, with various colors and design details.
Collection of Sony electronic devices including earbuds, television, kettle, smartphone, camera, headphones, remote control, portable speaker, speaker, wireless earbuds, portable speaker, projector, gaming controllers, headset, and a soundbar.

Seeing Patterns & Connecting Dots:
By analyzing CMF trends across industries, it became clear that psychological perceptions directly shape visual preferences. Colors and finishes embody emotional cues such as comfort, aspiration, fear, vitality, or authority that people instinctively associate with the products they choose.

A complex visual diagram titled 'Seeing the Patterns' featuring interconnected circles with labels such as 'Death,' 'Life,' 'Protection,' 'Pandemic,' 'Metaverse,' 'Future,' and 'Past.' The circles are in blue, yellow, and red, connected by lines, and include various images, icons, and smaller circles with words like 'war,' 'self-care,' 'work from home,' 'NFT,' 'return to office,' and 'music.' The diagram explores themes related to societal and technological changes.

Mood Board for Perrigo’s 2024 Oral Care Product Line & Synthesized Pantone Colors:
We selected colors trending across industries and refined them to better suit everyday oral care devices. The palettes were designed to feel contemporary yet practical—avoiding fashion extremes while staying relevant to consumer products.

A collage of images related to the 2024 mood board, including cars, fashion, technology, and lifestyle items.
Color swatches arranged by hue on a wall, including shades of black, purple, blue, purple, red, pink, orange, yellow, green, brown, and cyan.
Color palette chart showing various shades organized by color groups from black and white to lavender.

Developed detailed CMF specifications, collaborated with suppliers, and reviewed samples to refine quality and preserve design intent. Began implementing the new CMF strategy across Perrigo’s oral care portfolio, shaping products scheduled for the 2023-2024 launches.

Color swatches labeled with Pantone codes and pens on a white sheet of paper.
Color samples, color palette sheets, and paint swatches laid out on a white table next to a laptop.
Colorful rectangular sticky notes arranged in rows of different colors, including yellow, blue, orange, beige, purple, and green, on a white surface.
Color fan deck swatches with paint color codes, pens, and sample color patches.
Top, front, side, and back views of a gray Steripod toothbrush sanitizer with a Pantone color code 10262 C background.
Multiple views of a mint green sterilization box with a white 'steripod' logo on the top, labeled with Pantone 5645 C.
Technical drawing and color options for a sterilization device, with labeled parts, specifications, and color swatches for olive green, blush pink, slate blue, and light gray.
An exploded view of the components inside a small, blue, wall-mounted automatic soap dispenser, showing various internal parts.
Package of assorted colored toothbrush protectors arranged above a gender and preferences chart. The chart shows categories for masculine, feminine, neutral, and a combination of male and female.
A chart displaying different colored pod-shaped objects, each with a corresponding color code and label. Colors include blue, green, orange, pink, purple, beige, red, black, teal, and white, with some marked as new or featuring specific Pantone codes.
Technical drawing and color options for a sterilization device called Sterpod Clip-On UV Sanitization Device, including parts diagram, materials, and color swatches in olive green, blush pink, lavender, teal green, taupe, and electric blue.
Colorful wireless earbuds and matching small spheres arranged abstractly on a light blue background.

A heartfelt thank-you to a former ID intern Lillian Lin for her support and contributions to the Perrigo Oral Care CMF research project. Lillian is an exceptionally versatile designer whose skills span branding, UX, packaging, cosmetic products, and industrial design.

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